Is it time to rethink Culture Fit?

Let’s start from the top – what is culture fit?

Every organization has a way of life, often, shaped by its values, behaviors, and norms. Culture is, in essence, the collective rhythm of how people work and interact. And like any rhythm, it can be learned. Without getting into the science of learning culture, I’ll say this: as an immigrant, I had to learn the Canadian way of life after living across the world. So yes, in my experience, culture can be learned.

If that’s true, then why do we hire for “fit”? Shouldn’t we be hiring for adaptability, curiosity, and the willingness to grow? When we prioritize “fit,” we risk excluding those who don’t mirror our current culture, but who could enrich it. We say we want authenticity and diversity, yet we filter people through a lens of sameness.

Now, I absolutely understand the concept of shared values and it is valid. When people see a connection between their personal values and company values, their relationship with work becomes more than just transactional. So, I get it. But when “culture fit” becomes a filter for sameness, it stops being about shared values and starts being about comfort. As we know, comfort is the enemy of growth. If we only bring in people who think, act, and work like us, we risk building echo chambers (resonating ourselves) instead of ecosystems (interaction of diversity).

I don’t believe we can champion DEI and cling to culture fit. That would be paying lip service to DEI and that has never worked. It’s time to shift the focus to culture add and create space for people to bring their full, authentic selves to work. Culture should be dynamic, not static. It should evolve with every new voice, every new perspective, every new experience. That’s what “culture add” is about—intentionally inviting difference to strengthen the whole.

So, I’d like to challenge what we’ve long accepted as “right” for our organizations. If we’re serious about building workplaces where people and culture thrive, then we must be willing to rethink our approach. Let’s move beyond comfort and toward conscious inclusion—because that’s where real growth begins.