Let’s Make Sure They Fit In! Really?

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What It’s About: There is some confusion that belonging requires compromise and fitting in. To be truthful, there is some of that. It would be unreasonable to join a sports team and decide that you don’t have to wear the uniform or show up for practice. In organizations that genuinely embrace diversity, it doesn’t mean that “anything goes.” It’s expected that people work together towards a common purpose, often aligned and connected to shared values that glue people together. On the other hand, what great cultures allow is for people to bring their unique skills, signatures, and even quirks to the workplace. It is not desirable for people to act like homogeneous clones.

Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, emphasizes that it’s time to move away from monolithic cultures that promote consistency and conformity, to more adaptable cultures that celebrate and draw on employees’ unique strengths. Ideally, this mindset should help organizations develop the flexibility and innovation required to survive and compete in the coming years. I couldn’t agree more.

So What?: Excellent organizations make room for employees to bring their best selves to work. This is reinforced by research from Stanford folks like Hazel Rose Markus. As reported in a recent McKinsey article, Markus finds that “when people explore a wider range of ‘possible selves,’ they develop more self-awareness, a wider range of abilities, and deeper understanding of how and when to draw on their best selves (and stifle their worst selves). These skills are especially crucial in moments of crisis, when organizations need new and varied solutions, and need people to do the right things, rather than what has always been done.”

Now What?: One small step is to make room for personal uniqueness to emerge through the interview and selection process. The people at Stanford give examples of simple interview questions that invite people to describe themselves more authentically:

“ What three words best describe you as an individual?
What is unique about you that leads to your happiest times and best performance at work?
Your personal-highlights reel: Reflect on a specific time—perhaps on a job, perhaps at home—when you were acting the way you were born to act.
How can you repeat that behavior in a new role or even your current job?”

Belonging is most richly defined when people can authentically fully contribute and thrive. Fitting in is aimed at connecting through purpose and values. That combination really works!

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: Admittedly, those questions aren’t that easy to answer (especially on the spot), however I’d imagine faking to fit in somewhere would be even harder. Purpose and values should be the same, but that’s the line where sameness stops, individuality can shine through, and the organization benefits from it.

- Garrett

Let’s Make Sure They Fit In! Really?

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