by Kassem Zaiter
Published May 26, 2025
Finding Your Fit: Leadership styles and organisational culture at work
Have you ever been warned off a potential new company or workplace based on someone else’s negative experience? This is a common scenario in job searching, and it highlights the complexities of “culture fit.” Imagine hearing a story about a place with rigid rules and strict hierarchies—one person’s nightmare might be another’s dream structure. This article explores why workplace culture and leadership styles are not universally experienced and emphasizes the importance of finding the right organizational fit for you.
We often hear that “the company culture is terrible” or “the management is awful.” But what does that truly mean? Individual experiences of workplace culture can vary widely. What one person considers a negative environment, another might thrive in. Management styles and company values are incredibly diverse, and finding alignment is key. It’s like trying on shoes; one size doesn’t fit all, and the same applies to workplaces. People have different work styles, management preferences, and ways they like to be managed.
The blame game at work
It’s easy to blame previous employers or managers for personal failures. However, it’s vital to address your bias in doing so and emphasize self-reflection and taking ownership of one’s part in workplace experiences. An employee fired for performance issues might, in their next interview, attribute it to a “toxic” company culture, spinning a narrative of mass firings to protect their image. This creates a cycle of misinformation across the job market. Skewed perceptions arise when individuals avoid accountability for their own shortcomings, we must recognise the importance of self-awareness in career development.
Work culture in the UAE
Navigating the diverse work cultures within the UAE provides a unique example. Here, just as anywhere else, individual fit is crucial, regardless of broader perceptions. The focus isn’t on criticism but on understanding the diversity of experiences. In a country with hundreds of different nationalities working together, if you are coming from another region, this can sometimes be a shock to the system. It’s important to see the benefits of this diversity, however different it feels to you initially. The beauty of it is, there’s always a spot where you’ll click, contribute, and shake things up, whether it’s here in the UAE or elsewhere. Just because someone had a terrible time at a company doesn’t mean you will.
Aligning with the right leadership style and organizational culture is essential for career satisfaction.
If I could give one piece of advice: listen to your gut, be accountable, and don’t spread rumours. And for the love of taking calculated risks, embrace new experiences, as that’s the only way you’ll grow and learn. Have you ever found that a company that wasn’t a good fit for someone else turned out to be the perfect place for you? Understanding this dynamic can lead to better career choices and overall satisfaction.
