ABSTRACT
Cross-cultural conflicts in schools occur when school leaders lack awareness of the sociocultural demography of their school community and empathy towards people of other cultures. Consequently, this chapter explains how cultural intelligence can be applied in various ways by school leaders in a diverse learning environment. Anecdotes and statistical findings from schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were explained alongside published research from the UK, Australia, the US, and other parts of Asia where cultural diversity is promoted. From principles to practice, the ideas in this chapter revolve around the key aspects of cultural intelligence, such as establishing interaction points, being conscious of cultural knowledge, and using appropriate verbal or non-verbal language.
