The Best Reason To Quit Your Job--Or Keep It.

Croom and the Sumo's, a photo by chem7 on Flickr.

Cultural fit is the variable in your career equation that controls how well you succeed in your job.

I know—that’s a pretty bold statement. You might stay in your job for months, even years with a strong record of results. You might be told by upper management that your skill set is valued.  Bosses will encourage you to keep at your role—because the reward for hard work well done is—more hard work.

But thriving is a different story. After a year or two, a strong performer will want to take on new projects or move onto the management track. A sales diamond in the rough will want to take on a larger sales territory. This is where cultural fit becomes crucial. If you are a top-rated employee who decides to stick with your company with the hope of getting promoted, take an honest look at the cultural similarities and differences between you and the company you invest your career in.

First: know thyself.  Figure out your own priorities before you ever accept a new job opportunity. Take a good look at your life—at what drives you and also what deadens your soul:

·      Flexible or rigid schedule—what works for you?

·      What degree of hierarchical structure feels right?

·      Does meaningful work trump a higher salary?

Dig deeper and reflect on your more personal values:

·      Do you value ethnic and age diversity?

·      Are you sports-minded?

·      Are charitable pursuits a big part of your mission?

·      Do you highly value personal privacy after work is done, or do you like to have a beer with your team?

Some signs of cultural fit will be more obvious than others. If your company is headquartered in the Rust Belt, for example, and your coworkers enjoy congregating on the weekends to watch Detroit Lions games together, you may be at a disadvantage rooting for your Giants at home in the northeast.

Once you’re on the job, you need to be especially observant about cultural fit.

·      How often are you comfortable having scheduled conversations with your manager?

·      How many management layers of approval are you comfortable with before a decision can be made?

·      Look at the employee that seems to be most valued on the team. Is their personal or professional profile anything like yours?

It’s no reflection on you if the cultural fit isn’t there. It just might be time to move on. Knowing when to cut bait is the result of an observant and reflective mind.