'If you hire people just because they can do a job, they'll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they'll work for you with blood and sweat and tears.' - Simon Sinek
'Company culture is the continuous pursuit of building the best, most talented and happiest team we possibly can.' - Andrew Wilkinson
'Culture, more than products or services, is what differentiates an organisation from competitors, both in the minds of customers and of employees.' - Joe Tye
Three great quotes that give you an insight into why great company culture and employees that fit that culture can transform your business from being average to amazing!
Chances are, you’ve probably heard the words ‘cultural fit’ before, especially when it comes to the professional working environment. For many, it is a term used to reflect the likelihood that a new hire will do seemingly insignificant things, such as conforming to the company dress code, pitching in for lunch, or going out for drinks on a Friday with the rest of the team. However, this is not what it means at heart, there is so much more to the system of a good ‘cultural fit.’
What ‘Cultural Fit’ Means For a Company
Every company should have its own culture, which is usually built up of a set of beliefs, behaviour, personality and goals. One company’s culture may be more distinct than another, but once a company culture has been defined, ideally every action, strategy, decision and communication should support its cultural beliefs.
What ‘Cultural Fit’ Means For an Individual
Every individual employee also has their own working culture, which radiates throughout who they are, through language and communication, through daily work ethic and throughout everyday working lifestyle. The working culture is designed by their attitudes, values and beliefs.
Being a cultural fit for a company is about mostly owning the same beliefs, behaviour and personality as the workplace. The individual will fit if you have the same working values that the organisation holds. The two may never be exactly aligned, but they should all be marching in the same general direction.
What ‘Cultural Fit’ Doesn’t Mean
Company culture fit doesn’t mean that a company should recruit the same kind of individuals with the same backgrounds and experiences. Hiring diversely is vital for every company in today’s society, and businesses should certainly hire a variety of individuals from different genders, ages, races and religions to ensure their business stays innovative and new. Cultural fit shouldn’t be used to discriminate against diversity. Research supports the fact that non-diverse teams can make for a less ground-breaking environment in terms of business evolution. Having a diverse workforce has been shown to build stronger companies so this should be embraced. True cultural fit on the other hand is more to do with attitudes in the working environment, and the alignment with the company’s values.
Communication In The Culture
Companies with strong cultures are usually interested in collaborative working processes and open communication. When these values are aligned, employees find easier communication between all levels within the business. Positive communication within company culture is a powerful indicator that a business will be successful.
Working As One
A team that works together with the same core values functions better, and everyone moving forward with the same goals makes a strong cohesive team, rather than a team that has disjointed priorities. When conflicts and differences arise, be that professional or personal, it is much easier to resolve when employees are working towards similar values.
Why Finding A ‘Cultural Fit' Is Important
It is a relatively straightforward process for recruiters to find good employee matches based on qualifications and experience. The missing piece in the jigsaw is whether the applicant is actually a Cultural Fit for the company. When recruiting individuals in your organisation, finding a cultural fit should be one of the most important features you search for. A meta-analysis by Kristof-Brown reported that employees who felt like they fit well with their organisation, co-workers and supervisors in terms of having shared values also had the following:
Higher job satisfaction
Identified more with their company
Were more likely to remain with their organisation
Were more committed
Showed superior job performance
A Tale of Two Hires
To illustrate the importance of cultural fit, let’s take a brief look at two hypothetical employees: James and Lucy.
James was hired primarily based on his impressive CV. He had all the technical skills needed but struggled to integrate into the company culture. Despite his qualifications, he often felt isolated, disagreed with the company's approach, and eventually left within a year.
Lucy, on the other hand, had a good balance of skills and cultural alignment. She believed in the company's mission, easily integrated with her team, and contributed innovative ideas in line with the company's values. Her alignment with the company culture not only made her stay longer but also enhancedThis simple comparison highlights the tangible benefits of considering cultural fit alongside qualifications and skills. her performance and team collaboration. This simple comparison highlights the tangible benefits of considering cultural fit alongside qualifications and skills.
Studies of cultural fit across many countries have also found that there is a relationship between cultural fit and mental and physical health. Therefore, if a job fits a certain personality, they are less likely to exhibit signs of depression and anxiety. On the other hand, if you hire employees that don’t connect well with the existing company culture this can lead to poor work quality, decreased job satisfaction and a potentially toxic environment. This results in a turnover of staff, which has high costs for the business.
It is therefore vital that you think clearly about company culture. It’s also important to think about the other side of this, it’s not all about the company. It’s also about the potential employee. If a business hires an individual who they’re not sure will be a correct cultural fit, they are potentially wasting everybody’s time. People thrive in an environment they feel comfortable in, so find the right people and let those with a different workplace value find their perfect company elsewhere.
Conclusion
When we are matching employees to companies one of our main concerns is to get the right cultural fit. Through years of experience, we know it can be the make or break of a good working relationship that lasts. Scientific research proves that employees who are happy and fulfilled in the workplace not only perform better but are also more likely to work for the company for a longer period of time, increasing productivity and retention levels. So, investing in your understanding of company culture and how that affects the cultural fit of employees is a worthwhile consideration and a great investment in your time.