Exploring the parallels between Hiking and Onboarding

The last place or time I want to think about my work is on holiday, where I consciously try to disconnect and recharge, but EUREKA moments have their own schedule, love it or hate it!

The Fishermen's trail was on my bucket list, and I am finally walking along the sandy path with breathtaking coastal views, maybe the second or third day on the trail, pushing forward with a heavy backpack and multiple blisters on my feet, dreaming of the shower, tasty Portuguese food (and wine), bed and... suddenly my brain goes "knock, knock! - Remis, do you see the parallels between hiking and onboarding? Think about it...!"

EUREKA!

I truly believe that the onboarding experience is a game changer for any organisation, and the more energy and resources you invest in creating a Wow experience for new talent joining the company, the stronger and longer-lasting connections you will build.

In the past, we didn't have a consistent onboarding process, each team had its own way of bringing new people on board, and as we grew, the differences became obvious. Some members raved about the experience and the mentorship they received in their first weeks, even months, while others were provided with internal documentation and instructions and had to figure things out on their own.

Sound familiar??

Coming from a support team with extensive experience of onboarding over 40 people, I immediately knew what my first big project as the new People & Culture Leader at MailerLite would be. Yes, it was creating a dedicated onboarding and development role within the team to establish a brand new company-wide onboarding process for everyone joining MailerLite (including team leaders).

So where's the parallel between walking and onboarding, you might ask? Here it is:

Preparation

Just as hikers equip themselves with the right gear, new hires need the right tools and information to start their journey. Our real onboarding begins before the official first day.?

Guidance

A map and compass guide hikers, much like mentors and onboarding programmes guide new employees towards their goals. We have planned a full schedule with multiple activities and recommended times for each to help plan the day. The programme consists of a mix of self-paced and live training and workshops, various meetings with teammates, and also with colleagues and leaders from other departments to build a wider network of connections across the company.?

Milestones

Reaching checkpoints on the trail boosts morale and provides a sense of progress, similar to achieving onboarding milestones. We tailor the development plan and set clear monthly targets, follow-ups and Q&A sessions to help people progress efficiently over time.

Support

Whether it's fellow travellers or supportive colleagues, having a community makes the journey more enjoyable and less daunting. We onboard new people and call these groups 'classes' so they can share their experiences, build stronger connections and feel supported throughout the process. And the icing on the cake is a quarterly JumpStart call with the company founders, full of sharing experiences, and quizzes about colleagues and processes!

Reflection

Both Hiking and Onboarding provide moments to reflect on the journey, celebrate successes and plan for the future. We celebrate successes and share public #kudos, give timely feedback and listen carefully to newcomers' feedback to improve our processes.

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I'll be sharing more information about every step of the MailerLite onboarding process going forward. Feel free to comment, share your own onboarding experiences, and help everyone else and me improve this important process.

What's your onboarding experience in your company?