Onboarding is a crucial process that can have a significant impact on employee retention and engagement.
It is delivering on the perceived recruitment promise and integrating new employees into the organisation, providing them with the necessary tools and resources to succeed in their new roles. As a manager, it’s essential to understand the value of the process of onboarding and its direct correlation to how long an employee stays and how successful they are in their role, and with you as their employer.
Here are the three things that you should include in an effective onboarding.
1. Have a Structured Onboarding Process
A structured process is critical to the success of your new team member. Whilst on paper, it provides a clear framework for their integration into the company and sets expectations for their performance, what it really does is communicate how they will fit into the team and the organisation, and how they will also be expected to deliver in their role; in the same, organised and structured way. This will help to ensure that new employees feel welcome and equipped to perform their job responsibilities.
2. Allocate Time for Support
Onboarding is not a one-time event as they sit down at their desk, but rather an ongoing process that supports a new employee to transition into their role with you. Schedule weekly check-ins for the first month minimum with your new hires to provide feedback and ensure that they have the resources and support they need to succeed, and continue monthly scheduled check-ins ongoing. Giving your time and allowing access to you as their manager will see you heading off any poor behaviour and set them and you up for success.
3. Communicate What Success Is
To have an engaged and successful team, setting tasks is not enough. Consider and communicate how you measure success in those tasks. If a simple task is answering the phone, you would naturally communicate how you like the phone answered. This is also appropriate for higher level tasks. Communicate proactively how you would like to work and things that are important to you, alongside where you would like them to lead, showing a considered and supportive environment. Effective leadership through onboarding sets the tone for your ongoing work relationship.
Regardless of how experienced a new-hire is, they are still new ‘to you’ and will need your time and support to be successful. Onboarding is a critical process that can have a significant impact on employee retention, engagement and business success.
Whether you need to tweak or completely overhaul your people systems, we can help. Contact us today and let’s talk about the challenges you are facing in engaging and growing your team. It all starts with a Discovery Call – book online click here.
Christine Litera is the CEO and Founder of the Chrysallis Consulting Group. She is also the author of Grow Your People Grow Your Business: Big Corporate Secrets for Small Business Budgets