Blog #130: How taking a plane teaches you about the importance of pre- & onboarding - 5 learnings
Katherina Swings????
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Are you or have you taken a plane this summer to fly?? to your holiday destination? I am sure you have checked your passport, your flight tickets, and flight details upfront online.
You know your flight number, your time for take-off, your allowed luggage, and even if you have a window seat or not.
Pre-boarding is an essential part of your preparation for a successful flight.
You have made it on time for your flight and you are warmly welcomed by the cabin crew and then you hear the captain speaking:
“Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. My name is ABC. First I'd like to welcome everyone on Flight XYZ. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side, we are expecting to land approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. I'll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the flight.”
This is how part of the onboarding on an aeroplane looks like.
What can you learn from these practices when you are pre- and onboarding ‘new passengers’ in your company?
1.??????The passengers can check all information online
The passengers know upfront what is expected from them as well as what they can expect. They know whom to contact if they have questions or concerns.
What about your new hires? Do they know:
2. The captain welcomes the passengers
The captain introduces him/herself to all passengers and welcomes everybody onboard.
Who is the captain who will welcome your new hire? People are the company’s biggest asset, right? It is important to show what that means in practice, ideally right from the start of the ‘flight’ of the new passenger in your company.
3.??????The captain gives concrete and relevant information about what will happen
The employee experience starts before entering the office for the first time. Informing the new hire about what will happen and what is expected on the first working day is a non-negotiable for a happy stressless start. Changing jobs and starting the first working day involves stress for sure.
4.??????The captain introduces the cabin crew?to all passengers
The captain does not do all the work. (S)He has a team (s)he can rely on. Making clear from the start whom the passengers can turn to in case of any questions or emergencies sets the scene clearly.
What about your new hire? How do you inform him/her whom to talk to, where to go or whom to contact? Not only in the first couple of days but also in the first months of the new hire's employment in case of questions, remarks,...
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Great employee onboarding can improve retention by 82% according to Sapling HR.
5. The captain keeps the passengers informed about the status of the flight
The captain keeps the connection with the passengers during the flight. (S)He informs about possible delays, unexpected motions of the aeroplane, etc.
What about your new hires? The 'captain' who has welcomed the new hire on the first day, does (s)he continue to play a role during the whole onboarding process? Is the role clear for the new hire? And is it also clear to whole stake holders who are involved in the onboarding process of your new colleague?
It is more than worth it to take care of the whole employee journey from the day the new hire signed the contract until the first three, six months, or even a year. The journey is the collection of touchpoints with the new hire. Make sure to also map who will take care of these touchpoints.
‘Dear passengers, we are ready for landing. Please make sure one last time your seat belt is securely fastened. ‘
This is?my?130th?blog?to inspire you, decision-maker in the hiring process, to attract and keep the talent you need to grow your business, now, and in the future. For you to see how you can join the Talent Treasure Hunt.
Now, it is your turn.?Please answer the questions below:
Are you ready for take off?
Ready with your pre- and onboarding process in place?
Thanks a lot for reading till the end and I am looking forward to reading your reactions.??
Sharing is caring, so if you believe?this?newsletter might benefit other people within your network, please feel free to share it with them or tag them below. I appreciate it??.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Enjoy your Treasure Hunt Journey.
Katherina
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About?Katherina Swings
An inspirational?connector, a multi-lingual?contributor?with international (working and living) experience, an inspirational speaker, a seasoned HR person with two decades of corporate experience, an experienced change?manager?with business savvy, a creative?writer, a certified professional?learning facilitator, a certified inclusive leadership trainer, a certified employer brander, a?multi-cultural networker, an active?listener…
My?vision?is to create a positive world by connecting people who discover each other’s strengths.
My?mission?is to support?100 000 managers worldwide to become (more) in-clusive.
==============================================================???????????????????? Do check out my?129?previous blogs.?Let me know your feedback after reading them!?
Project Management Professional
2 年Thank you for planting the seeds of knowledge dear Katherina.
Sales & BD/ Mastering prospecting & partnerships
2 年Before the ontboarding takes place, I believe assertiveness from the employee is also important. You must ask several questions to your upline, before the onboarding takes place. When you do have all the answers, it’s going in a natural way. ( that is the promise of the company you will work for ) However when it’s your fist job ever and you don’t have the experience yet, ( to me ) it is obvious that the company must inform you about everything, before you start to work there. Good companies are doing this, whitout you asking for it. They know you don’t have the experience yet. When an employee is naturally and spontaneously happy in a company, they will show it to you in every way.