Julie Turpin PurposeFULL Leadership Newsletter - What’s The Vibe?

February is Insurance Careers Month, and I’ve been thinking a lot about workplace culture.

We know culture matters. The majority of Millennial (92%) and Gen Z (89%) professionals continue to say a sense of purpose is critical to their job satisfaction and well-being, and that they wouldn’t work for an employer whose values don’t align with their own.

And yet, I’ve seen speed replace discernment. Offers are extended quickly. Teams are moved quickly. Decisions are compressed. Culture is shoved under the rug.

Whether you’re deliberate about it or not, every business has a culture. That is, shared values and behaviors that shape how employees interact and work together within the organization. The challenge is determining whether a culture is your “vibe.”

And that vibe just may equate to your longevity with the company. Those who feel connected to their organization’s culture are 47% less likely to look for another job.

If you’re considering a move within insurance — or even outside of the industry — here’s a proven culture evaluation process to take:

Look in the mirror. 🪞

Before you evaluate a company’s culture, you have to understand your own.

What matters to you? What’s your “happiness at work” equation? Do you value connection? Growth? Stability? Autonomy? Financial performance? Mission-driven leadership?

We tend to skip this internal work. But when you lack internal alignment, external noise sets your direction. Clarity of your values is what allows you to recognize alignment or misalignment when you see it.

Look for consistency. ♻️

Culture isn’t what’s written on the website or job posting. It’s what shows up repeatedly in real life — from leaders and teammates.

If you’re interviewing for a role, make sure you meet people at their level. Listen for alignment in the answers of leaders, would-be peers and direct reports.

When messaging is consistent across levels, that’s usually the sign of a strong intentional culture. If it’s not, that’s culture too.

Physically be there. 🧑🏽💻

For jobs where in-person presence is a part of the culture, make sure you have walked into the office and felt the environment.

Zoom can mask culture. It gives you one person’s perspective. But when you show up in person, you see how people interact, how they help/don’t help each other, whether leadership is accessible and how the energy feels.

It’s a vibe check. Culture is the thing you can’t touch, but you can absolutely feel. And will permeate every minute of your working day.

Ask better questions. 🙋🏻

Culture doesn’t live in the job description. You have to surface it.

Ask:

• Can you share a recent decision that reflects the company’s values?
• What behaviors are rewarded here? What isn’t tolerated?
• How does the organization handle conflict?
• How comfortable do people feel pushing back?
• How are promotions decided?
• How does leadership communicate performance?

Also, look outside the interview. Read their annual report. Listen to an analyst call. Watch what leaders write and say publicly here on LinkedIn. Companies — and C-suite leaders — are telling you who they are, if you’re paying attention.

And then, always come back to intuition. 💭

After the research and conversations, take time to reflect. Does this feel right? Do you connect with the mission? Do you see yourself growing here?

You can gather all the facts in the world, but eventually, you have to pull it all together and ask yourself whether it aligns with you and your mission.

During Insurance Careers Month and beyond, be curious and intentional. Don’t just chase the offer or blindly follow the team. Don’t assume alignment because you’ve had it in previous roles. Make sure you’re choosing a place you’d be proud to build your career.

PurposeFULL Leadership
by Julie Turpin, Chief People Officer

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