Onboarding is the first impression that a new hire is given of the company. Therefore, an effective onboarding program can dramatically impact the way an employee steps into their new role. Despite this, many companies have no formal onboarding at all, and some only have skeleton programs that do little to properly introduce new hires to the company. These ineffective programs lead to decreased productivity, more stress and an overall disconnection from the rest of the team.
Let’s discuss the three reasons why an effective onboarding program is more important than ever.
Onboarding gives employees a low-stress environment to learn company processes
In their best form, onboarding programs acclimate a new employee into their role at the company. A built-out onboarding program serves as a training ground, providing people with the knowledge needed to succeed at their jobs. When an employee is thrown into their role with little to no knowledge of what’s expected, they tend to become overwhelmed and disorganized. It’s through onboarding that employees learn how to meet the expectations of the company and feel that they can bring value to their position.
A good strategy for integrating new employees into the company is by developing a clear agenda for the first few days (or weeks), giving new hires a template of what to expect moving into the future. If applicable, engage employees in training sessions to learn and ask questions in a casual environment. By setting clear expectations through structured tasks, new hires are more likely to leave onboarding with a clear picture of how to move forward successfully.
Onboarding helps employees feel connected to their company and to each other
It’s proven that employees who feel more connected to the values and mission of their company are more likely to stay longer, be more productive and contribute more often than those who feel disconnected. An onboarding program serves as a great place to introduce new hires to the values and culture of the company, giving them the opportunity to find a place for themselves within it. By prioritizing the “why” of your company, employees feel that they are valued, respected and contributing to something greater than simply a 9 to 5 job.
Onboarding also allows for a growing connection between a new hire and their team. Diving into a new role and a new company can be scary, so providing opportunities for a new hire to engage with fellow teammates can go a long way in reducing employee anxiety. A great way to do this is by incorporating company culture activities, such as happy hours, meet-and-greet sessions or even simple coffee chats.
Onboarding encourages productivity from the start
Lastly –– and arguably most importantly –– onboarding helps new employees to be productive from the get-go. Studies have shown that companies with a strong onboarding process improve new hire productivity by over 70%. As new employees move through the onboarding process, they are frequently given opportunities to engage with employees who have been with the company longer, allowing them to reach higher productivity levels than if they were left to figure out everything on their own.
Harness the power of feedback to better understand where employees stand and what they could use to better improve their performance. Open-ended questions may help elicit authentic responses to further improve current and future onboarding. How did the onboarding process prepare you for your role? What element was the most valuable? Consider asking these five essential questions on employee surveys. Adjusting future strategies to help new hires get off to a great start will go a long way toward boosting productivity and overall achievement.
Why all this matters
Building out a robust and effective onboarding program will do wonders toward fostering connections between new hires and the company while supporting them as they step into their roles. With strategic planning and an adaptable approach, organizations can effectively onboard new hires to result in productive employees who feel comfortable contributing to the overall success of the company.
If you’re looking for more information on creating a strong company culture, check out our article on Rebuilding Your Company Culture in a Remote Workplace.
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