Personality & Workplace Culture Match

CORE CONTENT | 0.7 min read

Choosing a job that matches your personality is key to long-term success. Though you are by no means obligated to love your job or those you work with, it can save a lot of headaches. Stark differences in how you and your team prefer to work, communicate, or interact can create communication breakdowns, decrease productivity, and breed frustration. You may have a great job in terms of workload but lack any feeling of community—hard work goes unacknowledged and managers are cold to their employees. Even something as simple as feeling undervalued can grow into greater dissatisfaction.

A workplace culture vs worker personality match boosts job satisfaction and reduces stress. This alignment also affects how you fit in, as being in an environment that reflects your values and social preferences can enhance your sense of belonging and engagement. One such case is an extrovert thriving in a collaborative environment or an introvert excelling in independent roles. Moreover, this increased likelihood to excel leads to greater professional growth and opportunities.

REAL WORLD EXAMPLE | 0.8 min read

Marissa thought she had landed her dream job at a dynamic health startup renowned for its growth-focused ethos. Yet, just three months in, she found herself resigning. In the bustling environment of the startup, where working late and moving at a breakneck pace were the norms, Marissa felt increasingly out of sync. Not naturally inclined to such a high-energy setting, she struggled to connect with her small team of colleagues. Moreover, the challenge of squeezing in productive work amidst constant meetings and team lunches led to many late nights, something she didn’t share the same fervor for as her coworkers. She soon realized that this wasn't the right fit for her.

Marissa has since joined a company that prioritizes structure and a healthy work-life balance. The position allows her to leverage her skills in a more steady-paced environment. Despite the job switch being a fairly lateral one, with little meaningful difference in compensation, location, or job description, the contrast between her previous and current roles and the effect it has had on Marissa’s job satisfaction is evident.

KEY TAKEAWAYS | 0.3 min read

• Two otherwise identical roles at companies with vastly different cultures will yield drastically different work experiences.
• How you perceive and fit into your workplace culture has tangible implications on your productivity and job satisfaction.
• Screening for an organization’s social and professional norms before taking a job can help you make your decision and save you stress later on.

PRACTICE | 5 min thought exercise

What is the ideal workplace culture in your mind? How would this company…

• Treat employees?
• Make decisions?
• Structure teams and their interactions and communications?
• Manage conflicts?
• Provide training, growth, and advancement prospects?
• Acknowledge employee or company achievements?
• Express and uphold its principles?
• Expect employees to behave in and outside of work?
• Handle diverse perspectives?
• Respond to market or economic shifts?