Employees are the crux of any business. They are what keeps it running effectively, and as they say, a business is only as good as its weakest employee! Therefore, you want a team you know you can trust, that works well together and are as passionate about the company as you are. If you’re looking to hire more people, perhaps as part of your growth objectives, or maybe if you want to replace someone who is leaving, there are a lot of things you need to consider. In this article, we explore some of the top tips for onboarding new employees to ensure they settle in well and fulfill their potential.
Why is onboarding new employees so important?
There are many reasons why onboarding employees is so important. This includes:
- It can help them to settle into their roles faster
- They can be more productive if they know what’s expected of them and what to do
- It can reduce the turnover of staff and keep people in the company for longer
- It can foster a sense of belonging and connection, which makes them more engaged
- It can foster a more positive company culture and help them settle in quicker
What can you do to successfully onboard new employees?
There are many things that can be done to successfully onboard new employees and make them feel part of the team in no time. Some of the things you can do are:
Focus on onboarding before they even start the job
Many think they should wait to onboard employees until their first day at the company, but it should start way before this. You should start onboarding as soon as you give them their acceptance letter for the role. Send welcome emails before they come in, you could have them come in for an introductory afternoon where they meet the team and get a chance to get a feel for the place. Send over letters or emails with clear instructions on what to wear to adhere with your dress code, their pay, holiday, working hours and anything else you might think they need to know.
Have a set plan for their first day
The first day at a new job is always a bit of a funny one and you should ensure it’s as welcoming as possible when they arrive. Have their workplace all set up with the equipment they might need, and have them already sorted with a login and password for the work computer or laptop. This ensures it’s quicker for everyone as they won’t need to sit and wait for everything to be created while they are there.
On their first day you should also have them go around and meet the team, perhaps spending some time sitting with key members to find out what they do and how the company works. You should also conduct a formal orientation that covers essential information such as about the company culture and values, HR policies and IT systems.
Have a dedicated onboarding process for all employees
Once the first day has finished, don’t just leave your employees in the lurch. It takes a while to get to grips with a new job and you want to make sure they feel fully settled and integrated in with your business. To do this, you could look at assigning them a buddy who is there to assist them with things such as finding their way with their new role, supporting and guiding them when they need it and helping them to navigate the team and company culture. You should clearly outline the expectations you have of them and what you want from them in their role so they are versed in what they need to do and can hit their goals.
You should also offer training that is for their specific role and also for the company as a whole, such as training them on your web security policies or fire safety. For example, you might have things like DKIM for email authentication in place, which helps organizations protect email communications from tampering. This can be part of their training that keeps the business safe from hackers. You could look to organise team-building activities so they can get to know everyone better too.
Offer continuous support and feedback
As time goes by and they’re fully integrated as a member of your staff, don’t forget to keep checking in. Offering continuous support and feedback can ensure they feel looked after and that you’re looking out for their overall wellbeing and how they are doing in their role. You should schedule regular check-ins where you find out how they are getting on and if there are things perhaps they want to change or that they feel they aren’t getting from their role that they should be.
If their performance slips or if they suddenly seem different, be sure to speak to them and find out what’s happening and if you can help in any way. Find out their long-term goals at the company and if there is a position they want to be in, for example. Once you have established this, you can help them find out what they need to do in order to get promoted and if there are any skills or particular milestones they need to meet in order to do so.
These are just a few top tips for successfully onboarding new employees that can help their joining of your company be smooth and as successful as possible. By having your employees feel welcome and part of the team right from the moment they accept your job offer, it can really help them to settle in. This is a positive for both them and you, and it will mean they have integrated into your company and want to do the best they possibly can. Ensure you continue this same nurture campaign while they are employed with you, checking in regularly and finding out how they’re getting on and if they need anything. What are some top tips you have for successfully onboarding new employees? Let us know in the comments below!
