Understanding Situational Awareness

[Okoroafor Faith]

The first time I was at an event buffet was served, though I was told I could go as many times, I still waited to read the room.

In my mind, "make I no go chop second round now and no do no do dem go slam me with bill, say second round is not free," when all I had was my transport money.

Make I watch whether those wey go collect second plate don return safely...

And before you know it that person wey tell you say you fit eat as much as you want go don disappear.

Double wahala for dedi bodi...

Even if LASTMA Officer tell you to enter BRT lane kuku watch well well o...

Seriously speaking, there's a thing called situational awareness. It is a part of spatial intelligence.

It means the ability to read the room in detail knowing what is around you, understanding what it means, and appreciating that every cough is a coded message and a sneeze, an unspoken language.

It doesn't go out of fashion.

It is timeless.

Seeing and hearing small changes around you. Knowing why those changes matter and guessing what might happen next and appreciating the balance of power in whatever environment you find yourself.

Our elders said that "a newly purchased fowl walks with one leg as soon as it is released in its new environment, not that it is feeling pain in the other leg, but to feel the ground first and survey its environment."

This is because our ancestors said "You do not test the current of a flowing river with both legs"

 

[Chima Azuka]

That is why parents are advised to teach their children coordination and how to read the room. Coordination is important.

 

[Ijeoma Chinemerem]

Self Preservation!

 

[Ijeoma Chinemerem]

In Potiphar's house and in prison Joseph learned the culture of the land before being ready for the appointment at the King's palace when opportunity presented itself...

When access to greatness present itself not knowing how to behave in certain places can rob one of the opportunities..

Also your talent is not enough in certain circles you also need to know how to behave in those circles..

The book of Proverbs is loaded with wisdom on how to behave on this subject..

 

[Mr OJO Olayele]

High IQ + Low CQ = Failure. High CQ + Average IQ = Success.

I did CQ in my Executive MBA. We even took a CQ test. During one of our CQ discussion group, the professor said “business success is not linked to high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) but high Cultural Intelligence Quotient (CQ).

Your ability to read the room, understand the cultural differences in the room, know who would not appreciate to be addressed casually and who may not have a problem with being addressed casually - that’s what makes you culturally intelligent. It’s a different kind of intelligence and you can lose or win big deals by your cultural intelligence.

For example, when I am in Nigeria, I dress Nigerian. I respect elders. The same applies in Czech Republic. You can’t call an older person by their first name. On facebook, I see people address everyone by their first names. Someone will inbox you to ask for favor and they’re addressing you by your first name. Another one is asking for mentorship but calls you by your first name. Somehow, this generation thinks such doesn’t matter. I laugh at them. This is not about the trending girl but about you - CQ means knowing where and when to address me as Mr. Charles and when and where to address me as Charles. If you don’t know this, you have low CQ. You can’t go far in life.