Cultural intelligence at work: practical strategies for health-care managers

Purpose As health-care organisations serve increasingly diverse populations, cultural competence is essential for delivering equitable, high-quality care and reducing health disparities. This study aims to equip health-care managers with practical strategies to embed cultural competence into everyday practice by leveraging the concept of cultural intelligence. Design/methodology/approach This study integrates theoretical insights with practical applications. It positions cultural intelligence as a structured and actionable framework for developing cultural competence in health-care organisations. Findings This study offers practical strategies for developing cultural intelligence in health-care organisations targeting both individual and organisational levels. Each strategy is accompanied by a detailed example from a health-care context to illustrate its application, thereby making the recommendations more accessible and actionable for practitioners. Practical implications Health-care managers can apply the proposed strategies to build their employees’ capability to deliver culturally responsive care. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by applying the cultural intelligence framework in the health-care management context, offering practical strategies for developing cultural competence at both individual and organisational levels.