From Conformity to Growth: Why Culture Fitness Prevails Over Culture Fit

To boost innovation and agility in your team hire for culture fitness rather than culture fit

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Julia Potato/Stocksy

A strong workplace culture is dynamic and evolves over time. So, when companies hire for culture fit, they often lean into a perfect ideal, missing ideas that deviate from established norms. This prevents the organization from adapting and evolving in response to external challenges and opportunities.

The paradox is that although culture fit aims to recruit the ideal employee, it fails to attract and retain top talent. Placing excessive emphasis on culture fit can cause teams to overlook highly-qualified candidates who bring valuable skills and capabilities. It can also lead to employees feeling they need to conform or suppress their true selves.

Organizations must strive for a comprehensive approach that emphasizes cultural fitness by embracing diversity, encouraging debate, and fostering learning. Doing so can create a vibrant work culture that promotes innovation and gr…