Top 5 books to create an incredibly effective employee onboarding
Starting a new job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As someone responsible for making sure new hires feel welcomed and ready to hit the ground running, I've been on a quest to improve our onboarding process. Along the way, I've stumbled upon some fantastic books that have totally changed the game for me.
In this article, I want to share these gems with you. They're not just books; they're like mentors who have guided me through the maze of employee onboarding. From understanding what really motivates people to nail down effective management techniques and creating a workplace where everyone feels happy and fulfilled, these books cover it all.
In my upcoming posts, I will also share the top videos and articles that helped me design the new onboarding process at Clapingo.
So, without further ado, let's discuss the top five books you must read to hire and onboard new recruits.
Drive: The surprising truths about what motivates us - Dan Pink
If I had to pick the single most important book that helped me design the onboarding process, it would be Drive by Dan Pink. It gets down to the why and how of what keeps people motivated to be a part of a team.
The main takeaway from the book is that traditional notions of motivation, such as rewards and punishments, aren't always effective in driving long-term, sustainable performance. Instead, Pink argues that intrinsic motivation, which comes from within oneself, is crucial for fostering creativity, engagement, and overall satisfaction in work.
Pink identifies three key elements of intrinsic motivation:
Organizations can create truly remarkable teams by leveraging these intrinsic motivators.
You can get the book here: https://www.amazon.in/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594484805
TL: DR Ted Talk by Dan Pink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkrvAUbU9Y
The First 90 Days, Updated and Expanded
The First 90 Days is a handbook for new employees to thrive at the workplace. As a manager, this allows you to get a perspective on enabling new employees to succeed. The book emphasizes that how you manage your first few months in a new job can significantly impact your long-term success. Watkins emphasizes the importance of making these early days count, as they can set the tone for long-term success.
For me, this book has been a revelation in terms of structuring our onboarding process. We've adopted Watkins' strategies to ensure that new hires receive the support and resources they need to hit the ground running. From setting clear expectations and goals to providing ample opportunities for learning and development, we've made every effort to make those first 90 days as productive and meaningful as possible.
You can get the book here: https://www.amazon.in/First-90-Days-Watkins/dp/1422188612
First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently
In "First, Break All the Rules," Buckingham and Coffman challenge typical management beliefs by studying thousands of interviews with managers and employees. They find what separates outstanding managers and teams from the rest.
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This book changed how we onboard new hires. Instead of focusing on fixing weaknesses, we now prioritize strengths. Great managers, they say, don't try to change employees but make the most of what they're good at.
"First, Break All the Rules" teaches us to value diversity and celebrate individual strengths. We're sure that by sticking to these principles, our onboarding process will only get better.
You can get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E7M6INO/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
The One Minute Manager
"The One Minute Manager" offers simple yet powerful management tools. It emphasizes providing quick feedback and setting clear goals.
We've adopted these principles into our onboarding process. Instead of waiting for formal performance reviews, we give new hires immediate feedback. This helps them learn and grow faster.
Setting clear goals has also been key. By outlining expectations from the start, new hires know exactly what's expected of them.
You can get the book here: https://www.amazon.in/One-Minute-Manager-Kenneth-Blanchard/dp/8172234996
DELIVERING HAPPINESS:-A PATH TO PROFITS, PASSION, AND PURPOSE
In "Delivering Happiness," Tony Hsieh stresses the importance of a positive work culture and happy employees. He shares how building a joyful workplace can lead to business success.
This book reshaped how we onboard new team members. Happy employees are productive employees. So, we've made sure our onboarding process focuses on making newcomers feel welcome and valued right away.
From fun team activities to supportive mentorship, we're creating an onboarding that feels motivated to do their best work. And it's paying off—our team is happier, more engaged, and delivering better results.
"Delivering Happiness" taught us that when we prioritize employee well-being and create a positive work culture, everyone wins.
You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.in/DELIVERING-HAPPINESS-PROFITS-PASSION-PURPOSE/dp/145550890X
That brings us to the end of this article. As I mentioned earlier, I have only picked the gems out of all the books I read. Other noteworthy mentions include The Joy Inc., The Secret of Teams, Becoming the Manager, Being the Boss, Crucial Conversation, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, Radical Candor, and Extreme Ownership. I decided to leave these out either because they dont directly give insights into hiring and onboarding.
As the next steps, we are testing the various tools mentioned in these books to tailor our process. By prioritizing motivation, clarity, strengths, efficiency, and happiness, these books have provided a roadmap to create an onboarding experience that works.
Now, it is your turn to implement these into your onboarding and see what works.