Humour as a Key to Cultural Fit in Interviews

A note to young leaders.

Cultural-fit interviews should not be formal, serious affairs. Make fun of yourself and your colleagues to see if the candidate laughs along. Better still, throw a few curve balls their way to see if they have the ability to laugh at themselves.

If, after allowing for nerves, the candidate can’t even smile at themselves – don’t hire them, they will hang like an albatross around your team’s neck.

Humour is the best way to deflate an exaggerated sense of self-importance. My favourite illustration of this is the legendary off-the-field exchange between Jardine and Woodfull in the infamous Bodyline series. See clip below.

Ego and self-importance are the enemies of great corporate culture. Don’t go gently into that smileless night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light of heart.