A couple years ago, I had lunch with one of my favorite colleagues. She was a rockstar when we worked together, and I knew any company would be lucky to have her on the team. But, after just eight months, she left her dream job. On paper, it had everything: prestigious company, great compensation, exciting product.
Her story isn't unique. I've watched brilliant people join companies only to leave shortly after because of cultural misalignment. But how do you evaluate something as seemingly abstract as culture? I've found one question that brings culture into sharp focus: “All things being equal… what isn't?”
What this essay explores
- Understand how environment shapes the constraints and opportunities through which your skills create impact.
- Use a single tiebreaker question to reveal what a company actually prioritizes under pressure.
- Ask for recent difficult decisions to distinguish operational truth from stated values.
- Identify the tradeoffs that consistently win on your team, rather than the values you wish would win.
- Recognize why revenue as the primary tiebreaker can signal a weak culture.
Key takeaway
The Culture Litmus Test: A single question to assess a company's culture, find the right fit, and build a stronger team
