Company culture... What is it?

Is it something that emanates from the top and is "forced" down and throughout an organization?

Is it whatever the prevailing attitude of the majority within an organization say it is?

Does it change based on opinions? What about when "new blood" is introduced into the group?

Do you bring people on knowing they don't fit the current culture, but will positively impact the bottom line, or do you protect the culture and be more selective in who you onboard?

Is culture exclusive or is it possible that many companies can share very similar cultures?

In real estate I hear a lot about "culture". In many cases it's stated almost as if no other brokerage is capable of having it. What's interesting is that most of those same brokerages have NO issue bringing on any agent who has an active license.

You can't have it both ways... Humans are much too diverse, have far too many motivators, treat people way too differently, share wildly different value systems, etc for an organization to think they can protect some sort of culture yet bring on anyone and everyone.

If you think you are going to "gently persuade" someone to adopt your culture, you probably just desecrated the culture you were trying to maintain.

In my opinion, if you aren't hiring based on talent AND cultural fit equally, you forego the right to mention culture as carrying any value whatsoever. 

I tell agents all the time... we aren't a fit for everyone and everyone isn't a fit for Key Realty. That isn't arrogance, that is real life and I would rather that agent find a perfect place to land, not just a convenient place to land. I'd rather tell someone "no" and help them find the right place then have them come to me 6 months later and tell me they're leaving.