Cultural Fit and Loyalty are a Match Made in Corporate Heaven
As you look back at one year and forward to another, ask yourself: Are your employees happy? Do you have culture that values them? Are they invested in your success? What do they tell others about working in your organization? How long are they planning to stay?
Employees are quite often a company’s biggest asset. But like most relationships, you get out of it what you put in.
Two tips to achieve a more successful 2019.
-
Attract Happy.
To begin with, happy employees work for happy employers who start with hiring people who fit with their culture (assuming skill set and experience requirements are met). According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), executives value cultural fit over experience. Why? It seems cliché, but aligning values and culture assures a more-invested, loyal employee with longer retention.
TORCH TIP: Ask questions unrelated to skill set, technical competency, and depth of experience. Use open-ended questions that allow them to express themselves best. For example: Describe the management style that you flourish under. What expectations do you have of company leadership? Tell me about a time when you have prioritized doing the right thing over what was expected. Similarly, engaging in conversation is demonstrative of their social abilities and capabilities.
-
Retain Happy.
We spend more time with our colleagues than our families. So fostering a healthy and happy working environment is essential for retaining quality professionals. Do it simply: recognize their accomplishments, offer perks, and include them in dialog. In addition, it doesn’t have to cost a lot — or anything! Your time, interest, and inclusion are valuable to them. Above all, do what is right for your culture to ensure a visibly vested interest in their contentment.
TORCH TIP: As company champions, employees are the best-trained sales people and recruiters. Happy employees can be your secret competitive weapon. Engage them to help promote the organization and place the right person in a position. Ensure they understand the products and services, and know your mission, methodology, and messages. Above all, keeping them in the proverbial loop makes they your biggest advocates and best brand ambassadors.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on cultural fit or any other topic that’s on your mind. Email me at MicheleTorch@TorchGroup.com.
Michele Torch is founder, executive vice president, and chief talent officer of Torch Group, Inc. Torch in Two is her monthly “quick post” that provides two tips any employer can easily implement to create positive change in their organization.