Getting the onboarding process right is one of the most important things a company can do, get it wrong and the results can be devastating on the bottom line. If employees don’t have a positive onboarding process it can lead to them leaving their job out of frustration, or feeling that they don’t have a worthwhile place within the company.
So what is Onboarding?
New employee onboarding is the process of getting new recruits adjusted to the social and performance aspects of their new jobs quickly and smoothly. It is the process through which a new hire will learn the attitudes, knowledge, skills and behaviours required to function effectively within a company.
Onboarding isn’t about giving your new employee a computer and showing them to their desk! A truly effective onboarding process needs to be much more than just a morning or a day. It needs to be a continuous process, one which serves to engage, train and develop, giving them the tools for future success.
So why is onboarding so important?
Your employees are your greatest asset as they determine whether or not your business will succeed and grow. Investing in your people is a guaranteed way to capitalize on your investment, so keeping employees informed, engaged, productive and loyal is well worth the effort.Remember developing a highly effective on-boarding process;
- Engages your new employee from the very beginning, setting a precedent that you value your employees.
- Gets everyone on the same page in terms of the company’s expectations.
- Increases employee engagement.
- Improves employee retention.
- Integrates new recruits into your corporate culture.
- Reduces costs by preventing future spending on re-hiring and re-training.
- Increases work performance and productivity.
The onboarding process
An effective onboarding process;
- Provides ongoing, clear, concise and consistent channels of communication.
- Facilitates technical learning throughout the employees first three months.
- Aligns new employees to key business strategies.
- Sets milestones to gauge and measure new employee success.
- Discusses their job description, setting company expectations right from the outset.
- Presents information in easily-digestible amounts, as if it is not managed properly, the first week in a new job can be information overload.
- Reinforces the brand and other positive aspects of the company culture.
- Ensures you cover all the key elements such as health and safety and fire evacuation procedures.
Essentially having a company culture capable of attracting, developing and retaining talented employees!
Or if you would like any practical help or guidance on anything outlined above, please get in touch.
