There are millions of ways to craft an effective on boarding program for your new employees, and most companies are getting it right. Unfortunately, we rarely discuss what organizations should not do in regards to onboarding their new employees – some people would rather know what they shouldn’t do opposed to what they should. Here’s a basic guide of some “don’t” situations that can help you prepare a knock-out onboarding program.
We know time is money, and since that’s true you should take enough time with your new additions to ensure that they’re productive on the job. That means more money! Don’t treat onboarding like a quick one day event that you’re dying to finish. Take time to share important policies and aspects of culture in addition to critical job duty functions. It’s a marathon, not a race.
Onboarding doesn’t have to be an HR-only event. Include senior management, common co-workers, maybe even non-office related staff. You want to ensure that your new employees are comfortable and the team is solid along the way. Plan a meet and greet mixer in the lunch hour or even after work to get everyone acquainted.
Be sure to inquire about the experience – this includes new and current employees. If there is something that needs attention then getting it from those who were there is the best way to address it. This is a great opportunity to include recently hired staff in future onboarding events. You may find your next best leader!
So you’ve gotten feedback but you also feel like your method is bullet proof? Don’t get attached to it! Allow your program to grow, expand, and change. What worked the past 5 years may not work now. Think of how technology and culture have changed since then. Be sure to have an open mind and be willing to adjust to necessary changes.
Set goals for the new employees! This let’s them measure their own performance and be accountable. Onboarding isn’t a lecture at them, but a process with them. Set expectations and standards to be met so that they understand what they’re headed towards.
Interactive Services assists organizations in hitting the mark when it comes to new hire onboarding. We’ll ensure you miss the “dont’s” and target the “do’s”. Contact us today to learn about how we can customize your onboarding program.