How Your Culture Can Benefit from Testing

Company culture is more than a buzzword; it’s the backbone of any thriving organisation. It impacts everything from employee engagement and productivity to retention rates and overall business performance. Yet, while we often focus on perks, values, and team-building activities, we sometimes overlook a crucial tool that can shape and enhance company culture: psychometric and skills testing.

Far beyond its traditional use in recruitment, testing can help organisations cultivate a culture of inclusivity, growth, agility, and well-being. Here’s a closer look at how your culture can benefit from science-backed testing, with real-world examples and data to support these insights.

FINDING THE RIGHT CULTURAL FIT FROM THE START

One of the most significant benefits of testing is its ability to identify candidates who not only have the skills required for a role but also align with your company’s values and culture. According to research published in the Harvard Business Review, up to 80% of employee turnover is due to bad hiring decisions—often linked to poor cultural fit rather than a lack of skills.

Imagine you’re hiring for a collaborative team. By incorporating personality assessments and behavioural evaluations into your hiring process, you can better predict how a candidate might fit within your team dynamics. For instance, candidates who score highly in traits like empathy and teamwork are likely to thrive in collaborative environments, while those with a preference for autonomy might excel in roles requiring independent work.

🔗 External Resource: For a deeper dive into the importance of cultural fit, check out the Harvard Business Review’s insights on hiring for cultural fit.

REDUCING BIAS AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY

Diversity isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a proven driver of innovation and profitability. McKinsey & Company research shows that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15% more likely to outperform their competitors, while those in the top quartile for ethnic diversity outperform by 35%.

Testing can play a powerful role in reducing unconscious bias in hiring. Psychometric and skills assessments provide objective data, helping recruiters evaluate candidates based on their abilities and potential, rather than subjective impressions. For instance, skills tests can reveal a candidate’s competency regardless of their background, education, or demographic, fostering a fairer and more inclusive hiring process.

🔗 Learn more about how Testgrid’s diversity-friendly assessments can support your DEI initiatives here.

When you build a diverse workforce, your culture becomes one of inclusivity and innovation. Teams with varied perspectives are more creative, open to change, and bring unique ideas to the table—elements that enhance both team performance and company culture.

FACILITATING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

A culture that values personal and professional development tends to have higher levels of employee engagement and retention. According to the LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report 2023, 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company if it invested in their career development.

Regular skills and personality assessments can guide tailored development plans, allowing managers to understand an employee’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. For instance, an employee scoring highly in leadership potential but lower in conflict resolution could benefit from targeted training in conflict management, preparing them for leadership roles in a way that aligns with the company’s needs.

When your organisation actively supports growth, it demonstrates that employee development is part of its core values. This commitment to development enhances culture by making employees feel valued and by showing potential hires that your organisation is a place for career growth.

🔗 Explore the LinkedIn Learning Report to see why learning and development are essential for retention.

PROMOTING WELL-BEING AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE (E.I)

Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognised as a critical factor in creating a supportive, resilient workplace. Employees with high EI are better equipped to manage relationships, handle conflict, and work in diverse teams. According to the World Economic Forum, emotional intelligence is one of the top 10 skills needed for the future workforce.

Psychometric assessments can help gauge EI in candidates and current employees, enabling HR teams to cultivate a culture grounded in empathy, communication, and mental well-being. For example, high EI scores may indicate a candidate’s potential to navigate challenging interpersonal dynamics, fostering a work environment where empathy and resilience are core values.

🔗 Testgrid’s Emotional Intelligence Assessments help you identify individuals who can contribute positively to your workplace culture.

By fostering a high-EI culture, organisations create an environment where employees feel safe, valued, and motivated. In addition, EI assessments can highlight areas where employees may need support, leading to better work-life balance and improved mental health.

BUILDING AN AGILE WORKFORCE

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, agility is crucial. Skills assessments don’t just show you where candidates stand today; they also reveal their learning agility—an individual’s ability to acquire new skills and adapt quickly to change.

Using agility-focused assessments, your organisation can identify employees who thrive in dynamic environments. For instance, if you’re a tech company constantly evolving with new software and practices, you’ll benefit from employees who can learn and adapt quickly. An agile workforce enables your culture to be more responsive to market demands, fostering a mindset where continuous learning and adaptability are valued.

DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING AND CULTURAL ALIGNMENT

The data collected through psychometric and skills assessments provides valuable insights into both individuals and your team dynamics as a whole. For example, if assessments reveal a common gap in problem-solving skills, your organisation may decide to implement targeted training to align with cultural goals of innovation and efficiency.

Regularly reviewing these insights allows organisations to make data-driven adjustments to their recruitment and development processes, ensuring alignment with their cultural values. Are you building a culture focused on collaboration? Look at the aggregated behavioural traits in your team data and identify where additional support or hiring focus may be needed.

Testing is far more than a tool for finding talent; it’s a transformative instrument that can shape and strengthen your organisational culture. From finding culturally aligned candidates to fostering diversity, well-being, growth, and adaptability, assessments lay the foundation for a culture that attracts, retains, and nurtures talent.

GET IN TOUCH

By embracing testing as part of your culture-building strategy, you’ll be well-equipped to create a dynamic, inclusive, and resilient workplace. So, what does your company culture need most? The answer might be just one assessment away.

If you want to talk to one of our experts about introducing assessments into your recruitment process, get in touch with our team here, or call 03 9040 1700 to learn more.