And the transformation since we’ve moved him has been startling. He's thriving. 
 

By day two he was more comfortable in his new school than he had been in the school he’d attended for years. He’s happier, runs in each morning without a fuss, has a great new group of friends and is performing better academically. I keep marvelling at the difference and repeating to myself – thank god we moved him; thank god we moved him. It really couldn’t have gone better. 

 

 

Which makes me think a lot about workplaces and work culture. Sometimes it’s the job, sometimes it’s you – but sometimes it’s the environment. Sometimes it’s just not the right fit. 

Culture is one of those things that can’t be changed (necessarily) by a single pupil or employee – it’s bigger than them. It requires wholesale change (and the appetite to create it).

 

Workplace culture can be a fatal flaw. 
 

No amount of professional development work, attitudinal change, career coaching and positive thinking will make your job better if the company isn’t right for you.

 

The same can be said for teams or departments. I’ve worked in companies where overall the cultural fit was fine, but when you drilled down to the departmental level, it was anything but. In one company I worked for, I thrived happily for years in one team before an internal move to a new department that definitely wasn’t the right fit for me. The culture was completely different and I was gone within a year.

If you’re happy enough at work right now, then this probably isn’t so relevant to you. But if you’re currently job hunting or thinking about quitting your job, make sure culture is up there with the ‘must haves’ on your list of criteria. 

 

 

Need help figuring it all out? My inbox is always open. 

Ok First name / Rewriter, that's all for now. Wishing you a gorgeous start to the month, cruising along, job hunting or career change dreaming - whatever your current circumstances may be. 

 

I'll be back in your inbox late July.