5 Ways to Stress-Free Onboarding Experience For All Your New Hires
It will make your life far, far easier
The Monday Morning Manager Series #42
The first three months of your new hire’s onboarding is crucial, and it can’t be left to chance.
Ideally you want your onboarding process to be smooth, stress-free and get your new team member up to speed as quickly as possible.
But finding the time to onboard new hires effectively can be a challenge.
People leaders need to find that time though, or risk creating some of the onboarding horror scenarios below:
“I showed up to work and couldn’t get in the building because I hadn’t got my swipe card yet. When I rang the phone number I’d been given, there was no answer.”
“I arrived at on my first day and no-one knew anything about me. The hiring manager was nowhere to be found.”
“When I started there was no laptop or phone and I was told to provide my own. First I’d heard of it.”
“The first day was OK but after that I had to rely on my colleagues to tell me what to do and they were all to busy to help me. They all told me different things. I kept making mistakes, it was a nightmare. I’ve resigned.”
These are all true stories.
Imagine what the new hires felt, how many people they told and what that could do to your reputation as a leader.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, here are some ways to ensure a smooth & stress-free onboarding experience for your new hires.
1. Make Onboarding a Non-Negotiable Responsibility
Not having a proper onboarding process is a recipe for disaster.
Make it a priority to schedule dedicated time for onboarding activities with your newbie in the calendar.
Treat it as non-negotiable.
It will be worth it in the long run.
2. Delegate
Remember, you don’t have to organize the whole onboarding process on your own.
Delegate tasks to your team members or collaborate with your HR team to streamline the process.
Identify areas where others can contribute effectively, such as sharing information about the team, company culture, or specific job responsibilities.
3. Schedule Dedicated Onboarding Time
As you do for other meetings and appointments, allocate specific time slots for onboarding activities with your newbie.
Don’t cancel and avoid double booking.
Showing up indicates to your newbie that you prioritize their onboarding experience, which builds trust.
4. Embrace Technology
If you are lucky enough to have a Learning Management System with online training modules, pepper your newbie’s first few days with slots to complete the modules.
Check out any online training for any systems your new hire will use and block out time for them to do some self-study.
Give your new team member time to explore the parts of the intranet they can access independently.
Doing these online activities will give your new hire a break from interacting with others, which can be tiring.
5. Create a Supportive Onboarding System
A successful onboarding process involves everyone in your team, HR, and probably your H&S team, if you have one.
Encourage existing employees to actively engage in onboarding by sharing their expertise, offering guidance, and providing a welcoming environment.
By creating a collaborative atmosphere, you distribute the responsibility of onboarding while promoting a sense of belonging for new hires.
Conclusion
Finding the time to onboard new team members may seem like a challenge, but planning it carefully and in advance should go smoothly.
By investing in the onboarding process with your newbies, you lay the foundation for high trust, high employee engagement, and a successful team.
Remember, the effort you put into onboarding today will yield remarkable results tomorrow.
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