Create culture, not a cult.

What’s your company’s culture like? Don’t reflexively say ‘great’, just because everybody likes the new coffee machine. Really think about it. How often do your teams clash and argue? Does management support everybody and resolve disputes, or are resentments left to fester? And when the pressure’s on, do people help each other out, or do they stick the headphones on and block everyone else out?

This is something that the best leaders think about every day. Because culture matters. Research shows that 73% of professionals have left a job because of a poor cultural fit, whilst 98% of employers and 97% of professionals agree that cultural fit within an organisation is important.

The Thrive & Partners team has seen first-hand why some companies are better able to attract and retain exceptional talent. We have observed the amount of time and money wasted making hires that do not make an impact and, in some cases, create more problems than they were intended to solve. The one thing we have learnt is that when an organisation recognises and prioritises a healthy company culture, they are able to attract and retain top talent.

So why are some businesses getting it so wrong? The cost to the business of bringing the wrong leaders - or in some cases the right leaders in the wrong circumstances - is not just financial. The damage that can be done to the overall culture of the business, as well as to individual psychological well-being, can be catastrophic. 

“Aside from salary, culture is the number one reason candidates will accept or turn down a role.”

Finding people who not only possess the skills and experience to excel in a role but also enhance the cultural diversity of an organisation is the ideal that hiring managers strive for when recruiting. However, questions about what constitutes company culture and how to communicate it effectively when recruiting remain a challenge.

Let’s have some of that culture, then

Employers need to understand which aspects of a company’s culture matter to professionals and identify how they can meet these needs to attract top talent. Clearly and effectively communicating the working culture of your business throughout the recruitment process is vital to finding candidates who will thrive within your organisation.

While 98% of employers believe cultural fit is important when considering a member of staff for a management role, 54% do not engage recruitment firms to help identify which qualities are actually needed to ensure a candidate is a good cultural fit when hiring. 

This is where Thrive & Partners’ years of expertise and understanding can help bridge the gap between company culture and attracting talent that fits. 

Our aim is to ensure our clients are empowered to make the best-informed decisions. We consider the search process to be an opportunity for clients to honestly address their own company culture, explore the market, and discuss the best route forward based on budget and time constraints. 

Our search process is deep and thorough, which is why we are always able to bring the best selection of candidates to the table. On average we will reach out to 300+ candidates for each role. Our objective is to ensure a diverse selection of candidates, so we will always search broadly to offer talented and adaptable people even if they do not meet the exact criteria. 

But hiring an executive is only the beginning. We will advise on integration and onboarding where necessary, as experience has taught us that when an organisation fails to provide proper onboarding and integration support, the new executive can struggle to adapt to the company's culture, objectives, and operations.

Building positive relationships with those we work with is our priority, so we stay in contact with the candidate once the hire is made. This means we can easily flag and help troubleshoot any potential issues to the client. We know that sometimes, hiring a new executive can disrupt existing dynamics, leading to resistance from current leadership or team members who feel threatened by the change. This can create internal conflicts and hinder the new executive's effectiveness, and we want to be able to help avoid this situation by keeping an honest route of open communication. 

As well as helping you grow your business with the best talent, we can also play a vital role in addressing situations where solutions turn into problems. We offer an objective perspective, analytical skills, and a wealth of experience in helping creative businesses navigate complexity, reassess strategies, and create meaningful change that aligns with the organisation’s goals and values.