Are you losing employees in their first 6-12 months?
It’s time to take a look at your onboarding process.
How well does your company handle onboarding a new employee? It’s often a complex process, with multiple stakeholders, and sometimes no accountable owner. But it can also be a make-or-break moment for your new hire, so it’s crucial that you provide an engaging experience that accelerates their ability to meet expectations.
Why Onboarding is Important
The first 3-6 months in a new job is a crucial time. During this window, employees are better understanding their role and the company culture, in addition to getting first-hand validation that they made the right decision to join your organization.
Your company’s onboarding process establishes tone, provides expectations, and streamlines relationship-building for new employees. If it’s executed well, new hires can quickly align their responsibilities with company needs, navigate the structure of your organization, and complete the necessary education and training to hit the ground running.
Onboarding specifics vary, but the important thing is to establish a formal process and document it so each process owner follows the same playbook.
Cultural Integration
Setting your company apart from competitors while making new hires feel truly welcome happens during cultural integration. This is an ideal time to bring the company’s mission, values, and culture to life through storytelling and engagement opportunities.
- Offer new hires the opportunity to meet the CEO directly or as part of a larger new-hire group within the first six months; this gesture provides important face time while establishing accessibility of senior leadership
- Encourage them to participate in company social events or community outreach activities; this gives them the opportunity to meet a large group of coworkers in a less formal setting while also witnessing the company values in action by management and others
- Provide a vehicle for their direct feedback regarding the onboarding process or other topics
- Recognize the value they are bringing to the organization by acknowledging their early accomplishments
Employees take a lot of pride in telling their friends and family about their company and the work they do, especially in the first few months of a new job. Take advantage of this special time for your employees by ensuring that they feel connected to the company’s mission, values, and leadership, and inspired by the impact of their work.
Want more tips on how to create a high-performing culture with inspired employees? Join the Harmonee email list and get a free 10-page resource guide for small business owners.
