HOW TO ONBOARD YOURSELF ON A HYBRID TEAM

Two weeks ago, I published an article about hybrid work and the three pain points I hear most about from employees. I offered a few human-centered thought starters.

Since then, I have received more questions and comments. I am addressing each of them in a separate LinkedIn post.

Today's Question: "I just accepted a new job and will be joining a hybrid team. What now?"

During our #HRvsVirus Hackathon, one of the teams decided to tackle virtual onboarding . They uncovered three pain points new hires experience in this new world of work:

1. ?Uncertain or concerned about role and expectation clarity
2. Unstructured and disorganized processes
3. How to get the same sense of connections virtually

So, as a new hire on a hybrid team - how can you hit the ground running?

Creating clarity about your role and setting realistic expectations with your manager are key to your success and peace of mind. In the first few weeks, make sure that you have frequent touch points with your boss and be frank about the type of support you might need. A great way to structure your conversations is by using the design thinking tool “What’s on Your Radar” . It helps you create a shared language and understanding with your manager.

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Many organizations are still in the process of adjusting their people programs and processes to a hybrid environment. You might feel hesitant to share feedback about the onboarding process with your new employer but know that your fresh eye perspective is gold. Any HR department and manager worth their salt will gladly listen to your insights so they can continue to improve the hybrid onboarding experience for everyone.

Creating structure for yourself in the onboarding process is key, especially if there isn’t a clear path set by the organization. Whenever I start a new role, I re-read Michael Watkin’s “The First 90 Days” and create my own onboarding check list. While the book focuses on new leader onboarding, many lessons can be applied to anyone’s onboarding journey.

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How might you build meaningful connections as a new hire on a distributed team?

Making and nurturing connections as a hybrid team member might feel as though it might require more effort and intention. In reality, most of the same relationship principles apply. A good first step is to meet with each of your peers individually and to discuss each other’s personality, communication, and working styles along with a more personal introduction to yourself. This way, you start to build empathy for each other which is the basis for a trusting relationship.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Dessain is the Founder and Chief Talent Experience Designer at talent.imperative inc , an employee experience design consultancy.

Nicole’s creative superpower is “connecting the dots” which she applies to her passion of bringing design thinking to the world of Human Resources through the HR.Hackathon Alliance .