Cultural Fit

One factor that few of us take into consideration when making a move or bringing new people into our environment: cultural fit. Do you have shared values? Do your personalities mesh? Will the quality of your interactions get better or worse as you spend more time together?

Cultural fit at work: Have you ever had that person at work that can’t seem to get along with anyone? These people are cancers inside of companies. They create animosity which can result in a hostile work environment. If left unchecked they can destroy the company from the inside out. If you interviewed the person, were there any signs that you should have noticed?

I am in the process of interviewing candidates for a position on my team. While the skill set is the first thing to look for, if the cultural fit isn’t there, it’s a deal-breaker. At the very least, whomever you bring on should be able to peacefully coexist with co-workers. One way to prevent hiring mistakes is to incorporate a robust interview process. The candidate should meet with a large group of people consisting of people above them, beside them, and below them on the corporate ladder. Once that process is complete, the interview group should come together for a frank discussion on merit and organizational fit. This provides an opportunity to have the candidate observed from different perspectives and may uncover red flags. At that point, a determination can be made to address them, or to continue the search.

Cultural fit in a romantic relationship: Since relationships tend to be very emotional, most people get involved without paying too much attention to cultural fit. Things like religion and opposing belief systems have a way of destroying well-intended love affairs. You also want to consider the affect of extended families on a relationship. Friction with relatives that are the result of cultural differences can make life very difficult. The key is to realize these challenges early on and act before the consequences begin to mount.

Cultural fit in your community: There is a reason why neighborhoods like Little Italy and Chinatown formed in New York City. People of the same culture choose to live together. They share traditions and values. They are typically aligned politically and socially. It’s easier to form relationships with people that share your cultural attributes because there are fewer differences to overcome. Years ago I was looking to buy a second home near a ski resort in the Rockies. I looked at some properties in a very small town in Utah. As I became more serious about moving forward I started to look at the culture that existed in the area. I began to understand that if you were not part of the predominant religious and social groups that existed in the area, you were an outsider. While the people I met were all very nice, I had a feeling there could be challenges down the road. This concern was more for my children than for my wife and me. In the end we decided on Vail, Colorado as it represented a stronger cultural fit. After nine years I’m convinced that I made the right decision.

When making big decisions in life it’s important to look beyond immediate gratification and emotions to contemplate the long-term ramifications of your choices. Cultural fit is a huge determinant of happiness in the workplace, in your community, and in your relationships.