Finding Your People
A structured reflection to help you hire for your real culture—not the one in your values statement.
This worksheet walks you through three parts: getting honest about your culture, naming your patterns, and building language you can actually use with candidates. Work through it solo in 15-20
minutes, or turn it into a 45-minute team conversation.
From the Helia Library — based on our Different Cultures Need
Different Humans article
When would I use this?
Before writing a job description for any role.
When you're seeing early turnover and can't figure out why.
When your leadership team needs to get aligned on "who we actually are."
Before starting interviews for a critical hire.
When you're about to grow your team significantly.
How to Make This Yours
Option 1: Quick solo reflection
Set a timer for 20 minutes and work through each section. Don't overthink it—get comfortable writing things that aren't fully fleshed out. You can always refine later.
Option 2: Team conversation
Block 45 minutes with your leadership team or hiring committee. Work through each section together, noting where you have clear alignment and where perspectives differ. Different perspectives are fine—you can mention to candidates that there's a range!
Option 3: AI-assisted
What to upload: This worksheet (filled out with your notes), any existing job descriptions or culture docs, notes from exit interviews or stay conversations (if available)
The prompt: "Based on my worksheet answers, help me write 2-3 paragraphs describing our culture that I could share with candidates. Keep it honest and specific—not aspirational."
Pro tip: Ask the AI to push back on anything that sounds too generic or polished. You want language that's real.
Take what's helpful and make it your own!
When a Worksheet Isn't Enough
This worksheet helps you articulate what you already know (or suspect) about your culture. But if you're getting consistent early turnover and genuinely can't see the pattern, or if your leadership team has very different ideas about "who we are," you might need someone outside the organization to reflect back what they're seeing.
If You Want Help With Hiring
Sophia Zisook helps organizations build equitable, systematic hiring processes—including the culture work that makes those processes actually find the right people.
She's a good fit if:
You're hiring for multiple roles and want a consistent approach. You want to build more equity into your process. You need help translating culture insights into interview questions and evaluation criteria.
Ready to talk? → [Book a free consultation] or email [EMAIL]
Not sure who's the right fit? [Book 30 minutes with Helia] and we'll help you figure out who in our Collective might be.
Related Resources
Finding Your People — The full article with the thinking behind this worksheet
Example Competency List — Build language that clearly communicates your culture to candidates
The Why Interview — Once you know who you're looking for, here's how to find them
Right Role, Right Level — Make sure you're clear on what the role actually needs before you start looking
As always, take what's helpful, leave what's not, and make it your own.
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