The Rise of Culture Add: Moving Beyond Culture Fit

Hello Trailblazers & Changemakers,

If you’ve been privy to any hiring or team-building conversations, then you’ve probably heard the term “culture fit.” But let’s be honest: this term often boils down to hiring people who feel familiar, who reflect what already exists. In today’s workplace, that’s not only limiting, but also a missed opportunity.

Enter: culture add.

As your company continues to build diverse teams and inclusive environments, ERGs can lead the way in redefining what great culture actually looks like.

What “Culture Add” Really Means

While culture fit asks, “Does this person align with what we already have?”, culture add asks, “What new perspectives could this person bring?”

It’s a shift from preservation to expansion. And when done right, it creates:

• Greater innovation - A more diverse workforce opens the door for different viewpoints and ideas, which in turn leads to greater innovation and creativity.

• A more inclusive environment - When candidates see people like them thriving at your company, it sends a clear signal: “You belong here.” Culture add helps create a workplace where people feel empowered to show up fully.

• A culture that grows with your people, not despite them - Great company culture grows as your team grows. Hiring for culture add ensures your values and community reflect the people who are actually building the business every day.

For ERGs, this is a culture add that is a natural fit. You already create space for underrepresented voices. Now, those voices can help shape how your company hires, grows, and thrives.

 How ERGs Can Champion the Culture Add Mindset

ERGs aren’t just affinity spaces; they’re culture shapers. Here’s how you can lead the shift:

• Educate internally: Host panels or fireside chats featuring employees who’ve challenged norms or come from nontraditional paths.

• Partner with recruiting: Review job descriptions, interview panels, or onboarding materials with an eye toward inclusivity and culture contribution.

• Share stories: Use your ERG’s newsletter or Slack channel to spotlight experiences that add richness to company culture.

• Advocate for what’s missing: Help your company recognize gaps in lived experience, perspective, or representation..

Everyday Ways to Embed Culture Add

The thing about culture add is that it goes beyond a hiring lens and seeps into everyday practice. 

One way to operationalize culture add is by involving ERG members in interview panels, giving candidates a clearer picture of the company’s inclusion efforts while empowering current employees to shape the future of their workplace. 

Performance reviews offer another opportunity to embed this mindset. Instead of solely measuring how someone “fits,” you can include questions that highlight how employees contribute to and expand the culture. And finally, give people leaders feedback on how well their team makeup reflects the broader company — who’s included, who’s missing, and what that says about the culture being built. These everyday actions help make culture add a lived value, not just a talking point.

Culture is a Living Thing—Let It Evolve

When we hire and build for culture fit, we preserve what’s already here. When we lean into culture add, we plant seeds for what’s possible.

As an ERG leader, you have a key role to play in actively shaping company culture. Please don’t underestimate your role in making sure the next generation of employees sees themselves in your workplace, too.

Onward and upward,

Dumebi

If you're interested in exploring how Chezie can enhance your Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), I invite you to schedule a demo. We also offer a wealth of resources to support your ERG initiatives:

• ERG Toolkit: Comprehensive guides and templates to help you establish and manage effective ERGs.

• Blue Pages: A collection of articles and thought pieces on best practices for ERGs.

• ERG Leaders Community: Join discussions with ERG and DEI leaders to share experiences and strategies.

Lastly, connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.