New year's resolution: Better onboarding practices for your business

The onboarding process for new employees is one of the most important aspects of a successfully run company, but it's often ineffective. Yet, focused efforts on improving new hire orientation practices could reduce turnover rates, improve overall employee satisfaction, and minimize the workload of on-staff training teams. As you approach the new year—a time for setting goals and embracing growth—revamping your organization’s employee welcoming processes can equip your team with the essential skills to foster collaboration.

WHAT GOES WRONG?

A Gallup poll shows that just 12% of employees believe their employers did a good job with the onboarding process. Key concerns include a lack of good communication and role clarity, as well as limited support and mentorship. There's often a lack of cultural integration and limited feedback and check-ins over time. Though crucial, workplace introduction within many organizations is overlooked, which leads to hidden costs and missed opportunities.

POORLY STRUCTURED EXPERIENCES HINDER BOTH COMPANIES AND EMPLOYEES

A poorly structured onboarding process impacts organizations and their employees in profound ways. Without a carefully crafted orientation, the company, employees, management, and new hires suffer in multiple ways:

Frustrated employees who do not "fit in" socially with the company culture are more prone to move on to other opportunities, leading to decreased employee retention.
Reduced employee efficiency can happen without effectively designed and accurate new employee training.
A lack of established objectives and expectations for employees can result in reduced productivity.
Employee morale can decrease due to poor corporate culture acclimatization. This can lead to employees not taking the initiative to support company efforts, missions, or objectives fully.
Without a clearly defined onboarding program employees may struggle to understand expectations and processes, leading to inconsistent performance.

BEST PRACTICES IN EMPLOYEE INTEGRATION REDUCE RISK AND CREATE GROWTH

By contrast, many of these concerns improve drastically when a structured, company-wide onboarding process is implemented. Utilizing best practices, including a structured, step-by-step process with exceptional communication, can mitigate losses in many valuable ways, leading to improved employee satisfaction, better workforce dynamics, and financial benefits - all essential elements to operate a thriving company.

An ideal onboarding process includes:

Clearly defined tasks that the employee is responsible for and provide direction on how to meet those goals and specific objectives.
Definition of responsibilities and whom employees should turn to when they have questions.
Building effective relationships by supplying a mentor for the employee.
Investment in follow-up through communication with new employees throughout the first several months to ensure their needs are met and directions for improvement are communicated.

Core to this process is creating a structured staff induction that focuses on the following four key areas:

Compliance: All local, state, and federal compliance requirements must be maintained.
Clarification: Explain the specific services an employee should provide, how they need to do so, and the steps to follow.
Culture: The company's culture needs to be communicated, and employees should be encouraged to be a part of that process.
Connection: Creating an authentic connection point for the employee makes them feel valued.

A structured onboarding process enables companies to get new talent acclimated and become productive sooner. It also helps ensure that those employees feel like a part of the team from the start. Begin the new year by supporting employees in their initial experiences within your organization's environment fostering their desire to grow, flourish, and contribute in numerous ways. While a structured new hire program takes some time to implement and perfect, it begins to improve company outcomes almost immediately.

Emory University's Corporate Learning can significantly enhance employee performance by offering comprehensive training programs, expert-led workshops, and personalized coaching initiatives. Our tailored learning solutions equip employees with the latest skills and knowledge, ensuring they remain competent and confident in their roles. Through mentorship and structured feedback, we can help you create a supportive and motivating work environment, ultimately driving higher productivity and securing a competitive edge in the market.

Contact Emory Corporate Learning to get started.