Why and how to hire for culture fit in a growing business
When you’re growing a business, it’s no secret that you need the right people around you. Your team can make or break your business growth, as you need people who you can rely on, people who are skilled, and people who drive you towards your goals.
But is hiring for culture fit a significant aspect of getting this right? We think so, yes. In our experience, it’s vital to hire people who align with your company culture.
As a team of virtual assistants working with rapidly scaling businesses, we’ve seen the inner workings of many companies. The most successful ones consider the culture from the get-go, both in permanent employees and outsourced contractors.
Let’s explore why this is such a big factor in your business success, plus how to start hiring for culture fit.
Why culture fit matters to your team
It isn’t enough to just have the skills and experience to execute a role to a high standard. You also need to consider how well a candidate’s values, beliefs, and behaviours align with the company’s culture, including its mission, vision, and work environment.
From a candidate’s perspective, a strong and clear company culture also makes you a more attractive employer, so you have a higher chance of recruiting the best talent.
These statistics speak for themselves:
- 88% of job seekers consider a healthy work culture vital for success
- 46% of job seekers cite culture as very important when applying to a company
- Creating a strong organisational culture can increase key performance metrics by a whopping 85% net profit increase over five years
Hiring for cultural fit and being intentional about integrating new hires into your team has become even more significant with so many organisations operating in a remote work environment, where team cohesion and shared values are crucial for success.
Let’s go into some of these benefits of hiring for culture fit in more detail…
Improved collaboration and communication
When your team works towards a common purpose, you create a sense of harmony and a positive environment, which leads to better collaboration and more effective communication. Your team works better together to solve problems and innovate.
Higher employee engagement and retention
32% of people say company culture was a key reason for leaving within the first three months. Employees who fit well within the company culture are more likely to feel engaged and motivated, resulting in high levels of employee satisfaction and reduced employee turnover.
Better performance and productivity
Team members who share the company’s values are more committed to its goals, leading to improved performance and productivity. They are also often more accountable and take ownership of their work, contributing to the overall business success.
Improved brand and reputation
When you recruit, candidates must see you as a reputable brand, as 22% of candidates would rule out a poorly reviewed company. Having a team that embodies your company’s culture helps maintain a consistent brand identity, both internally and externally. This strong, cohesive culture enhances the customer experience, leaving happy clients and a solid reputation.
Creating a great cultural fit with employees and external contractors
Hiring for cultural fit doesn’t only apply when recruiting permanent employees. It’s also incredibly important when working with an outsourced provider such as a virtual assistant so they mesh well with your existing team dynamics.
So how do you ensure that great cultural fit? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
1. Define your company culture
Make sure you clarify your values and expectations before you start the hiring process. You could create a culture handbook or similar document that outlines these values and how they translate into day-to-day operations.
We’ve worked with a few clients who have this in place and it makes working with them so much easier, as we’re really clear on expectations and can ensure we’re properly aligned.
2. Add culture assessments into your recruitment process
To ensure you incorporate culture fit into your hiring process, use interview questions designed to assess a candidate’s cultural alignment, such as questions about their preferred work environment, communication style, and values.
You might also want to consider using behavioural interviews or assessments to gauge how candidates have handled situations in the past that reflect your company’s culture. These methods really help to truly identify who they are as a person, and their fit with your team.
3. Involve your team in the hiring process
Unless this is your first hire, get the current team involved in the hiring process. When you encourage existing team members to share their thoughts, it’s easier to see how potential candidates might fit in the current dynamics.
You could also consider assigning a small trial project or task to observe how the candidate interacts with the team and handles work aligned with your culture.
4. Create an effective onboarding process
A thorough and effective onboarding process that reinforces and communicates your culture, including introductions to team members, sharing the company’s story, and explaining cultural norms is so important.
5. Improve company culture with communication and celebration
Don’t let it stop at the onboarding stage. Regular ongoing communication is vital to ensure new hires feel connected to the team and understand the cultural nuances of the company. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss how they’re adapting to the company culture, and to address any concerns early on that either party might have.
Over 53% of employees feel the influence of their workplace culture through recognition and celebrations, so team-building activities or socials are always a great way to improve cultural integration. If you have a remote team which makes meeting in person challenging, you can arrange some great virtual activities instead.
6. Evaluate the culture and team fit regularly
Continuously evaluate how well your team members align with company culture and make adjustments where necessary. Encourage a feedback loop where everyone can share their thoughts and make improvements as needed.
Partner with a VA who aligns with your company culture
Working on your company culture is an investment in the long-term success of your business, leading to a more motivated, engaged, and aligned team.
As a VA agency, we can help you to build an amazing, culture-led team by not only supporting you as an external contractor offering admin assistance but also taking on project management for recruiting new team members. We can manage the whole recruitment process for you, from candidate selection to onboarding.
To see whether we’re the right fit for your business, book a free, no-obligation call. We’re happy to offer some guidance and support.