The Importance of Onboarding and Keys to Success

The Importance of Onboarding and Keys to Success

An onboarding experience that delivers in all the right ways is a prime opportunity to win employees’ loyalty, trust and to make a lasting impression. A positive onboarding experience lays the foundation for long-term employee engagement, and the value stretches far beyond the initial weeks and months. Effective onboarding influences employee performance, and over time, has an impact on your team's ability to retain employees. Here are the advantages you can expect to reap from a quality, intentionally designed onboarding process.

1. Improved Performance

Day one of a new hire’s role is the first impression an employee will have of your organization. So, it’s important to provide a formal structure for training and establish clear guidelines and expectations to reduce confusion and instill a sense of direction. Setting up an employee for success from day one will support an employee’s drive to perform well.??

This translates to greater success for your team, your business and your customers.?A good onboarding experience ultimately enhances a sense of productivity about their tasks and role. Employees with a clear sense of what is expected of them in their role will be ready to tackle their responsibilities with determination.?

2. Increased Retention

A lack of a comprehensive onboarding procedure can cause you to lose talented employees early on and more frequently. In fact, employees are most susceptible to abandoning their role when they are first starting out at a new company. This may be because new employees feel anxious, confused or lack confidence when beginning a role. So, in the absence of structured onboarding, employees may feel disconnected with a company right off the bat. Of course, a first impression is make or break and will give way to employees wanting to stay or leave.??

Fortunately, a strong onboarding process can have a significant impact on new employees to feel included and ready to take on their new role. One of the best ways to address employee retention is through a strategic employee onboarding process, and companies that invest in effective onboarding procedures save money by being able to retain new hires.??

3. Enhanced Employee Engagement

Engaged employees are those who are motivated and passionate about their work, strive to do their best and are willing to go the extra mile to help out. And a large reason why employees do this is because they feel connected to their organization and gain a sense of accomplishment by working towards its goals. Therefore, an onboarding experience is your first opportunity to cultivate teamwork and sincerely connect employees to the organization. Employees who feel they are valued and included from the start are more likely to want to stay at a company, and as time passes, may feel more encouraged to pursue positions within a company rather than looking for outside employment.?

4. Cost Savings

In the absence of a thorough onboarding process, you risk losing an employee. And that means money out the door for you. Employees will ultimately adapt to their jobs more quickly with the support of a quality onboarding process. At the same time, they will be more likely to be motivated to dedicate more tenure to the company, saving you money in recruitment efforts scouting for new employees. When a training provided is of great quality, the overall time taken to acclimate an employee is shortened, employees feel comfortable taking on their new role and in the end results in saving you money.?

5. Increased Likelihood of Achieving Organizational Goals

An engaged employee who feels valued at a company and immerses with the culture is more likely to be motivated to accomplish organizational goals. A quality onboarding process should provide a clear path and direction to these goals and nurtures your new hires through to completion, ultimately increasing chances of success. It’s all about engagement and culture; An employee who from the start is provided the right tools and resources to succeed, is more likely to feel inclined to pursue tasks that contribute to organizational objectives.??

Onboarding is Your Chance to Make a Difference

So, it’s a no-brainer. Starting a new employee off on the right foot will develop a solid foundation for success and contribute to greater employee retention. It’s a win-win situation for all. Onboarding is the opportunity for you to create a clear picture and vision of the ideal structure of a role and team. When you invest in quality onboarding, you are investing in the longevity of the success and retention of your team.???