Welcome Aboard: How Superior Processes and Software Enhance Onboarding Experiences

Getting new employees to fit in is one of the biggest challenges businesses face. In this sense, the onboarding process is paramount.

It’s safe to say that the efficiency of onboarding programs contributes directly to overall business success. Whether your team will work in cohesion relies on previous training and frameworks.

Devise an Ideal Onboarding Checklist

Before we dive deeper into more complex matters, let’s take a look at the ideal onboarding checklist:

• Provide newcomers with relevant information regarding their jobs, responsibilities, schedules, and compensation
• Assemble the necessary paperwork
• Send a job requisition document to the managers in charge
• Give new hires access to all tools and apps
• Set up the required logins and accounts for new hires
• Schedule orientation sessions for every new employee

Once you’ve taken care of all these steps, you may safely move on to drafting an onboarding strategy. There are a couple of things to observe in this step, which we’ll discuss immediately below.

Customize Onboarding Training Materials

Every person is unique; this much should be clear to anyone. While onboarding programs usually rely on Standard Operating Procedures, it is recommended to customize the materials for every new hire.

To be able to do this efficiently, you should ensure that you are familiar with up-to-date HR trends. In essence, each new employee should receive a personalized onboarding plan in addition to the basic corporate orientation. These need to be aligned with the current trends and flexible enough to be easily adjustable. Also, consider an optimal scheduling software for projects and much more.

Include Cross-Cultural Training and Allyship Training

Include cross-cultural training in your onboarding materials to help new hires fit in faster and avoid cultural shock. The step itself doesn’t have to be complicated. It will suffice to provide basic guidelines and create opportunities for future team members to communicate efficiently.

The latter portends that proper communication procedures should be established, communicated, and mastered.

However, when it comes to eLearning for allyship, things become somewhat more complicated. It’s not a secret that underrepresented groups may face workplace isolation or even mobbing, so sensitivity is advised.

A culturally sensitive allyship training program can help all employees hop into the diversity and inclusion agenda faster and in a safe manner.

Assign a Mentor to New Hires

Merely providing efficient onboarding training won’t do much to help new hires learn the practical ropes. E.g., when employees need additional information or practical experience, they should know who to go to.

Assigning a mentor to all new employees is, therefore, crucial.

While nothing is set in stone, it is common to go for a 90-day mentor program. Adjust the schedule as necessary. Choose an employee who isn’t on the same team as the new hire for best results. Namely, mentors help newcomers integrate faster and meet more people from different teams.

Set Clear Goals and Stick to Them

It is necessary to define goals as soon as new hires start onboarding training. Why?

It helps the trainees focus and boosts their productivity. Nothing motivates people more than knowing future prospects.

Mind one important fact, though: the goals need to be clear and coupled with objectives and expectations.

This practice can help businesses avoid high costs of employee turnover. It’s critical to allow for individual career plans, and establish open lines of communication with new hires right away.

Introduce Key Staff Early On

It goes without saying that new employees should be able to fit into the corporate culture as soon as possible. Therefore, make sure to set up meetings with important staff early on.

Keep in mind that introductions matter. Don’t let the new hires’ introductions go unattended. Instead, encourage them to communicate with key staff and thus the unavoidable stress newbies are customarily prone to.

Rely on the abovementioned crucial proven processes to ensure employee integration, alignment, and motivation.

Help New Hires Build Meaningful Connections

Be inventive in your search for new strategies to assist new hires in building deep connections. To achieve this, it is crucial to encourage efficient communication.

As mentioned above, providing cutting-edge communication tools is a priority. This is extremely important for remote hires, as they don’t get to mingle.

There are many ways to help new hires build meaningful connections. Even team-building activities have evolved with the rise of new tech. E.g., consider setting up virtual classes (choose topics in line with employees’ preferences), online meet-ups, etc.

Hopefully, these tips will make it easier for you to come up with ideas for your onboarding training programs. Modification is in order, but do stick to SOPs for best results.

What is important to keep in mind at all times is that differences between people should always be in focus. To prevent potential conflicts, make sure to deliver stellar cross-cultural training programs. The rest will fit into place once you connect people. Keep communication channels open and encourage idea sharing.