160. Internal CQ

In the fourth episode of the Cultural Intelligence series, Julia Middleton explores what happens when two people meet, and both are in their Core. Through metaphors and real stories, Julia dives into how seemingly aligned values can still lead to tension, and how clashing cores if not carefully navigated can result in misunderstandings, resistance, or even breakdowns in communication. "The stronger your core, the more you need to think carefully before dismissing someone else’s," says Julia. She offers practical guidance on how to avoid misreading moments of cultural collision, and how to recognise the difference between disagreement and disrespect. Drawing on her own experience from facing difficult conversations to moments when she chose to stand by her Core at great cost, Julia illustrates how courage, clarity, and the language of Core and Flex can transform confrontation into productive disagreement. The episode also explores what happens when cultures collide within a person. Listen to this episode to understand how to manage cultural collisions between people and within yourself with empathy, strength, and a grounded sense of your core and flex.