When it comes to finding the right person to fill your next key role, don’t make the mistake of trying to find the “perfect” candidate for the job. Just because a person possesses a particular skill set that is needed to perform the job responsibilities, it doesn’t mean that they will be the right fit for your company. Finding the right cultural fit is paramount to the ongoing success of your company. Cultural fit, by definition, means that employees’ beliefs and behaviors are in alignment with their employer’s core values and company culture. Employees can be taught the skills needed to perform the job, but you can’t teach them to embrace your culture.
Company culture is a key component in attracting and retaining the best employees. Positive culture breeds positive employees and this has a trickle down effect on how they interact with your company’s customers. Culture is the ingredient that sets you apart from your competition. People do business with people that they like and a positive culture breeds the best employees.
Another key component when searching for your next candidate is their personality. If the position you are hiring for requires someone who is flexible and open to change and you fail to uncover that in the interview process, you’ll be looking to fill that position again in the very near future. Uncovering a person’s long-term goals and aspirations is another way to determine the right fit. If you are searching for someone to groom for future leadership, ask the right questions. Not everyone aspires to be a leader. There are many that are satisfied to follow and do the job as assigned.
Finding the right cultural fit results in a workforce that loves what they do, is passionate about the company’s core beliefs and values and produces a company that people long to work for. Is your company culture clearly defined? Can your employees easily define it? If the focus when hiring new employees focused on cultural fit before all else, it would greatly reduce the need to recruit so often. A positive culture attracts positive people – who in turn become a walking billboard for the company.
