Onboarding is arguably one of the single most important parts of the employee journey in your business. In a SHRM article called, “Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Good Onboarding,” it is stated that an employee is 69% more likely to stay in your company for at least 3 years if they experienced a great onboarding experience.
In a small business, this key part of the employment journey can get overlooked. Often when a hire is made, the need for the hire has been there for quite some time, so there is a rush to onboard an employee. You are essentially hiring someone who you needed months ago, and their long-term contributions can be an afterthought.
Setting a new hire up for success is critical to make sure they can be successful for you quickly and continue to create value for you well into the future. Imagine being a new employee trying to get on the same page while reading an entirely different book!
There are a few small things that can go a long way to ensure your new hire has a great start in your business.
Have one onboarding facilitator.
This person’s role is to be the key player in introducing every employee to the company, ensuring they have a set schedule and a firm understanding of the ins and outs of your business from a consistent source. The onboarding facilitator should plan to moderate each section of the schedule and be prepared to check in frequently during their first 30 days.
Have key success milestones in place.
It takes about 90 days for an employee to assimilate into your business. Break some key milestones into 30-, 60-, and 90-day increments to check in along the way. The focus of these meetings should be checking for understanding, removing any obstacles, and setting the next 30-days up for success. This will help you break out training in a way that the new hire can address the immediate needs while setting them up for success in the long-term in your business. Don't forget to celebrate wins!
Remember the beginner’s mindset.
Starting something new is really hard! We quickly start making assumptions of new hires that they are coming into the role with the same set of knowledge and experiences that we did. Set your hire up for success by not rushing through, being organized and thorough in how they are trained even on the most basic items, and by having the resources and contacts that will be useful to them in an easy place.
Make sure their assets, access, and space are set up in a way that makes them feel comfortable and welcome. There is nothing worse than showing up to a new opportunity and feeling like you are an afterthought. Show them you are psyched for what they will contribute to their org! This is especially important for both a physical and remote environment.
If your company could use some assistance with getting your onboarding set up for retaining top talent, reach out to me and learn about my onboarding system and leadership workshop.