When you hire new employees, you need to make them feel like a welcome part of the team. The first few months of a new job can be daunting for a lot of employees because there are many terms, skills, and cultural norms that they’re learning. When you make an employee feel like they’re part of the group, they’ll be more likely to seek help when they need it, and they’ll know who to talk to when they have a problem. There are several strategies that you can use to create a smooth onboarding process. Here are some of the top ideas.
Make It a Team Effort
When you want your new employees to feel welcomed and know who they can talk to as resources, you need to get everyone that your new employees will need to interact with the mindset of helping. Talk to your current employees about how they can help new hires, and create an environment that rewards helpful behavior. If the culture is positive, people are more likely to enjoy helping new co-workers succeed, and team-building relationships will often create the foundations of your new team. You can also create social events where everyone meets each other so that people feel comfortable talking to each other.
Choose Activities Well
Office work often involves sitting at a desk for hours at a time. So if you want your employees to be excited about an activity, why not get them moving? There are a number of healthy onboarding activities you can do that will help get everyone moving. These are good ideas for an office which doesn’t have much regular movement. While you want to get people moving, make sure that you choose activities that everyone can participate in. For instance, taking a 12-mile hike might not be something that everyone wants or is capable of doing, but most people can enjoy a scavenger hunt at a park.
Give Them Swag
Everyone likes free stuff, and when you give your new employees company swag, you’re showing them that you care. They also have something that they can take home with them to show their friends or family. But if you decide to do this, make it a memorable gift. Pens are okay, but if you get them something that they don’t already have, they’re more likely to actually use and remember it. For instance, branded phone car mounts, yoga mats, and water filtration bottles are some things that a lot of people don’t have but might like and use.
There are many onboarding techniques that you can use. The important part is to create a welcoming experience that lets new hires know that you care and that everyone on the team is there as resources during the first few months.
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