Why Getting Onboard is So Important

I’ve met quite a few people – both those leading organizations and those tasked with HR for those organizations – who have brilliant ideas for employee onboarding, mentoring, and policies. However, I’ve met more people who want all that, but don’t have the time, resources, or internal know-how to do it right now. This short post looks at some of the questions I hear all the time, and how implementing a well-planned employee onboarding program can change your organization for long term and for the better.

Those questions I get? They often look like these:

• When you have talented people on staff, how do you nurture them?
• When there are organizational constraints around benefits and job requirements, how can you be creative with growth?
• How can we support our low turnover rate and maintain our retention?
• How can we avoid an abrasive “getting-up-to-speed” process for new hires?
• How do we maintain a healthy, welcoming, and supportive environment for all hires, but especially those from historically marginalized groups?
• How can employees innovate – in all business areas?
• How can we create a process that matches up with the new strategic plan?

Implementing a functional employee onboarding process allows new hires to learn everything they need to know easier, better, and faster. This process results in better employee performance, deeper engagement, and increased satisfaction. Onboarding programs can cover the smallest topics (from using the copier and kitchen) to larger concepts (employee culture, where to find policies and procedures) and can help both new and existing employees adapt to changing environments. Mentoring programs can support employees in their work with the public, facilitate knowledge transfer, and reduce employee discomfort and tension. Successful onboarding programs:

• let all stakeholders know what is expected
• allow new hires to arrive ready to be productive
• have a formal feedback process
• connect to specific competency requirements/pieces of the strategic plan

When you begin planning your company's onboarding program, think about the following to add real 'teeth' to it: 

• Help employees understand the brand, culture, and values in terms of performance means that the work they produce will match their capabilities as well as their requirements.
• Offer insight into the placement of the position in the organization, as well as the intent and direction of that employee’s services, allows employees to feel grounded and oriented.
• Onboarding starts with the decision to hire – before Day 1 of work – and rather than ending, it transitions to mentoring.
• Consistency, empathy, and delivery are key for success.