Breaking the Mold: The Superior Impact of Culture Add Over Culture Fit
3 MIN READ | Last Updated on 13 April 2024
BY:
Kanchana Nirupamala (E223799)
Source: (HR Magazine, 2018)
The days of getting people on board only because they fit in culturally are over. Attention has shifted to “culture add," an approach that values diversity and aggressively seeks out people who can enrich the team with their various viewpoints, ideas, and experiences.
Culture Fit
Cultural fit is the degree to which an individual's values
and employers are congruent (West et al., 2018). Values,
attitudes, and behaviors make up the culture in this context, and they impact
how employers and workers go about their workdays
In
principle, building a cohesive team by recruiting individuals who will
naturally mesh with the company's culture makes sense. On the other hand, if
the company hires based on culture fit, it risks repeatedly employing the same
"type" of employee.
Source: (Hernandez, 2017)
Culture Add
According to culture add, businesses shouldn't be biased in
their hiring practices and should instead be willing to consider applicants
with different viewpoints. Hiring with a culture of inclusion means being open
to those who may not conform to the norm or status quo (TestGorilla, 2024).
Why is Culture Fit Not Ideal?
Unconscious biases are usually at the root of the "cultural fit" issue. 'Affinity bias' is the most prevalent kind of unconscious prejudice that recruiters encounter while doing "cultural fit" recruiting. This prejudice causes hiring managers to look favorably at applicants who are similar to themselves and down on those who are different (Caccavale, 2023).
Culture fit refers to "fitting in with the current culture," yet it only attracts those with the same beliefs to the organization. This causes groupthink, low creativity, and a shortage of different viewpoints (BuiltIn, 2021).
Companies should not recruit based on how well they fit in with the company's culture but rather on the unique perspectives and experiences each applicant may bring. That’s where Culture Add comes in. In essence, these fresh perspectives have never been considered before. When seen as having the potential to enhance the organization, the corporation is willing to listen and implement them, regardless of how unpopular or controversial they may be.
Source: (The Washington Post, 2020)
How to Hire for Culture Add?
Here are some tips to consider when hiring for culture add.
- Define Core Values: Understanding and outlining the core beliefs and behaviors that are
non-negotiable for the company is crucial for clarity's sake.
- Identify Gaps and Opportunities: To identify potential skill and cultural gaps that new hires may
address, it is necessary to study the current team dynamics.
- Adjust Job Descriptions: When crafting job descriptions, highlight the importance of diverse
perspectives and experiences and invite individuals from all walks of life to
submit their resume.
- Change the Interview Process: When interviewing candidates, ask them questions and put them in
scenarios that will help them understand how their unique perspectives and
experiences might enrich the team.
- Consider the Opportunity for
Advancement: When filling open positions, seek
candidates who can show an interest in learning, adjusting, and growing with
the company. This way, they can help shape the company's culture as it changes.
- Pay Close Attention to
Inclusion: Seek Out and Value People From All
Backgrounds, Opinions, and Experiences to Have an Inclusive Recruiting Process.
- Train interviewers: Educate staff members who are responsible for recruiting on the
concept of cultural add and how to recognize and appreciate it in potential
employees. These individuals need instruction in interview skills.
Check out this video for insight on issues in culture fit and how to hire for
culture add.
Source: (LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 2016)
To Conclude……………
The phrase "culture add" has emerged as a
revolutionary replacement for "culture fit" in the context of hiring.
When a company commits to the idea of "culture add," it's not only
about making up for fulfiling vacant positions; it's about creating a setting
where different viewpoints can coexist peacefully, paving the way for
creativity and success. Using this approach, HR experts can guarantee that the
workplace of the future will be inclusive, progressive, and brimming with
innovative opportunities.
References
- BuiltIn, (2021). Culture Fit: More Harm Than Good? 12 Experts Share Their Take.. [Online]. Available at https://builtin.com/company-culture/cultural-fit. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- Caccavale, J., (2023). Cultural Fit: Why You Should Stop Hiring for It. [Online]. Available at https://www.beapplied.com/post/why-you-should-stop-hiring-for-cultural-fit#:~:text=The%20main%20problem%20with%20'cultural,just%20part%20of%20our%20nature. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- Hernandez, M., 2017. People Team vs. HR. [Online]. Available at https://www.mannyhernandez.co/blog/culture-add. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- HR Magazine, (2018). The dangers of recruiting for cultural fit. [Online]. Available at https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/features/the-dangers-of-recruiting-for-cultural-fit/. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 2016. Why We Need to Rethink Hiring for Culture Fit | Talent on Tap. [Online]. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf5GmbmxQt8. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- Salhotra, A., 2024. Culture Add vs Culture Fit. [Online]. Available at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anita-salhotra-a50a9753_culture-culturaladd-workplaceculture-activity-7158072002044444673-VyW0/. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- TestGorilla, 2024. Culture add vs. Culture fit: Why culture add is the new way forward. [Online]. Available at: https://www.testgorilla.com/blog/culture-add-vs-culture-fit/. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- The Washington Post, (2020). Culture fit is outdated. It’s time to think about culture add. [Online]. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/brand-studio/wp/2020/11/30/feature/culture-fit-is-outdated-its-time-to-think-about-culture-add/. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- Tsai, Y., (2011). Relationship between Organizational Culture, Leadership Behavior and Job Satisfaction. BMC Health Services Research, Volume 11, pp. 1-9. [Online]. Available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21569537/. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
- West, A. L., Zhang, R., Yampolsky, M. A. & Sasaki, J. Y., (2018). The Potential Cost of Cultural Fit: Frame Switching Undermines Perceptions of Authenticity in Western Contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 9, pp. 1-18. [Online]. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306435/#:~:text=Although%20frame%20switching%20can%20enable,%2C%201997%3B%20Suh%2C%202002%3B. Accessed on 30 March 2024.
Interesting read and well written on the need to move for culture add from culture fit.
ReplyDeleteThank you!! Culture add is more suitable for contemporary organisations than culture fit in this BANI enviornment. Hope you enjoyed reading.
ReplyDeleteI first read about the term Cultural Fit and this model explains organizational fit very well. And the term Cultural Fit is well explained below. Cultural fit means "fit into the current culture," but it only attracts people with the same beliefs to the organization. This leads to groupthink, less creativity and lack of diverse perspectives. This is well written.
ReplyDeleteas you said we need outside talent that can bring fresh ideas. Hope you enjoyed reading
DeleteAgreed with your comment. While cultural fit can ensure harmony and seamless integration within a team, it can also promote homogeneity and limit diversity.
DeleteThis is the first time I've heard about "culture add." It's a fascinating concept that seems to really value bringing new perspectives into a team, rather than just fitting into the existing culture. I'm curious to learn how this approach can change workplace dynamics and encourage more innovation and diversity.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lathan!!
DeleteCulture add is a new hiring approach that promotes peaceful coexistence of different viewpoints, fostering creativity and success. It ensures an inclusive, progressive, and innovative workplace, replacing "culture fit."
ReplyDeleteAgreed. We need people to bring outside view points!
DeleteCulture add is a more effective approach to hiring than culture fit, which focuses on attracting individuals who share the same values and attitudes as the company. Culture add encourages businesses to be open to diverse perspectives and experiences, rather than focusing on fit. This approach can help create a more inclusive, progressive, and innovative workplace. To hire for culture add, companies should define core values, identify gaps and opportunities, adjust job descriptions, change the interview process, consider opportunities for advancement, pay close attention to inclusion, and train interviewers on the concept of cultural add.
ReplyDelete