Cultural Fit-The TLI Model

Justin McLeod, Founder and CEO of Hinge states “I look for two things when I hire a new employee: ambition and humility. Without a proven track record of initiative and ambition, it’s likely the person becomes a drain rather than a contributor to the company — even the really smart, talented ones.”

So what exactly is cultural fit?  We at TLI believe that It is a candidate’s ability to fit into the position, team, and structure of an organization.  It is key that a candidate have the same values and working style as those who are already working  with and have an ambitious and humble spirit.  The success of the candidate is dependent upon these factors and it is the fit that determines the employee’s satisfaction and longevity.

Jessica Herrin, founder Stella & Dot states “Shaping your culture is more than half done when you hire your team.  Companies that hire the “right” team member and continue to instill  shared common values will also be positioned for success by having a low turnover, better productivity, and great teamwork.”

We at TLI are experts in determining cultural fit for our clients.  The TLI Model begins with gathering information about our clients from stakeholder interviews to determine corporate culture.  We also utilize other resources to determine corporate culture since it is sometimes difficult and complex to determine….even by those within an organization.  In many cases, we have a long-standing relationship with organizations and their leadership which further assists us in determining fit.

Next, we assess and question candidates to determine fit…we do not look for someone just like everyone else in an organization, but for shared values. We also provide the candidate with the data we have collected from the organization so that can  do their own due diligence.  We also recommend that they look at other resources  such as the company’s mission and vision statements and lastly look at reviews of the organization by current and past employees.