You did; after weeks of posting jobs, reviewing resumes, and interviewing candidates, you found the perfect person to join your business. They accepted your offer, and they will be starting next week. How do you ensure this new employee gets off to a great start? Effectively onboarding new employees can boost your team's productivity, improve morale, and reduce turnover. A good onboarding process can help new hires feel welcomed, included, and productive from day one. An unthoughtful onboarding can lead to frustration, confusion, and turnover.
Here are five tips to help you create an effective onboarding plan for your team.
1. Define roles and responsibilities clearly. One of the first things new employees need to know is their role and what they are expected to do. Ensure you have a clear and detailed job description outlining their primary tasks, goals, and performance indicators. Also, explain how their role fits into the bigger picture of the team and the organization. This will help them understand their purpose and value in the company.
2. Focus on building trust. Communication is vital to building trust and rapport with your new employees. On their first day, you should allocate time to ensure they are comfortable. Share details on your leadership approach, team culture, and tips for being successful. When possible, map out objectives for the first 30 days and allow the employee to ask questions. Verify that the employee understands that you are there to support them, and provide them with directions on the best way to contact you if they need anything.
3. Provide them with the necessary resources and tools. When possible, provide employees with all the tools and resources they need on their first day. This will allow them to hit the ground running. By setting up email accounts, providing an employee handbook, access to technology, and any other essential job resources on day 1, the employee will be empowered to add value as soon as possible. Outline the training plan, and ask the employee if they need any additional support based on the roles, responsibilities, and goals communicated to them. In addition, small gestures like giving the employee company logoed items, a company phone number, and business cards can begin the process of an employee becoming part of the team.
4. Introduce them to their colleagues and stakeholders. Develop a plan for introducing the employee to their peers, support team, customers, and other key stakeholders. This should be done through a combination of one on one and group meetings. Advise the employee on crucial information they should share with their new peers and recommend questions they should ask. This can jump-start the networking process and set the stage for potential work friendships. Employees that develop friendships at work tend to communicate better and be more committed. Taking steps to connect new employees with current employees can help them get up to speed in their new roles, better understand the organization's culture, and feel better connected.
5. Check in with them regularly and solicit feedback. Finally, don't forget to periodically check in with your new employees and solicit their onboarding experience feedback. Ask them how they are feeling, what they are learning, what they are struggling with, what they need more of, etc. This will help you monitor their progress, identify issues or gaps, and adjust your onboarding plan accordingly.
Do you have a written onboarding process?
Yes
No
Onboarding new employees is a challenging but rewarding process. Every individual is different. Developing a framework for onboarding employees will increase the likelihood of new employees feeling valued, connected, and welcomed. You invested money, time, and energy in finding your newest hire. By onboarding them properly, you can maximize the return on that investment. Your effort to design and execute an onboarding process can reduce future conflict and employee turnover. Employees who are onboarded correctly are more likely to stay and perform better because they understand your expectations, have what they need to succeed, and know whom to go to if they need help.
By following these five tips, you can create an onboarding program that meets the needs and expectations of your new hires and helps them thrive in your organization.
If you are looking for additional help or guidance on onboarding new employees successfully, reach out to Your Path Executive Solutions today. We can help you design and implement a customized onboarding plan that suits your business goals and culture.
Thank you for reading this blog
Dorian Cunion is an Executive Coach and Business Consultant with Your Path Coaching and Consulting. He is a former retail executive with over 20 years of experience in the retail industry. He is a Co-Active coach who focuses on helping professionals and small business owners overcome insecurities, knowledge gaps, and lack of direction. He does this by assisting clients to tap into their values, recognize their strengths, and develop actionable strategies for growth.
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