Onboarding is one of the most important aspects of any company. It's how you introduce your new employees to your organisation and its culture.
But what goes into a good onboarding programme? Here are some things to consider:
What is an onboarding programme?
An onboarding programme is a process that helps new employees adjust to their work environment and become productive members of the team.
The programme should accomplish several goals, such as:
Familiarise the new hire with the company culture
Introduce the new hire to the team and their roles
Teach the new hire about the company's products or services
Orient the new hire to the company's policies and procedures
Provide resources to help the new hire be successful in their job
Onboarding programmes can take many forms, but they all share a common goal: to help new employees feel comfortable and confident in their new roles.
How to build a successful onboarding programme?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Every company is different, and every onboarding programme should be tailored to the organisation's specific needs.
However, some essential elements should be included in every onboarding programme. These include:
A Welcoming Activity: The first day of a new job can be overwhelming, so starting on the right foot with a welcoming activity is essential. It could be something as simple as a breakfast or lunch with the team or a tour of the office.
Whatever you choose, make sure it's something that will make the new hire feel comfortable and excited about starting their new job.
An Orientation Session: An orientation session is a great way to introduce the new hire to the company culture and values. It is also an opportunity to review the company's policies and procedures.
Make sure to leave time for questions so the new hire can get clarification on anything they're unsure about.
A Job Shadowing or Mentorship Programme: One of the best ways to learn about a new job is to shadow someone already doing it.
It can give the new hire a chance to see their day-to-day tasks and how they fit into the larger team.
If your company doesn't have a formal mentorship programme, you can still pair new hires with experienced employees who can answer their questions and help them adjust to their new roles.
On-the-Job Training: No matter what industry you're in, on-the-job training is essential to any onboarding programme. It is time for new hires to learn about the specific products or services they'll be working with.
Make sure to give them plenty of opportunities to practice and ask questions. And, as always, provide feedback so they can continue to improve.
Regular Check-Ins: It's essential to check in with new hires regularly – at least for the first few weeks or months of their employment. It allows you to see how they're doing and offer any additional support they may need. It's also an opportunity for new hires to ask questions and give feedback about their experience.
Tips for implementing and measuring the success of your onboarding programme
Now that you know what should be included in an onboarding programme, it's time to start planning your own.
Here are a few tips for implementing and measuring the success of your onboarding programme:
Define Your Goals: What do you want to accomplish with your onboarding programme? Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Choose the Right Format: There is no one-size-fits-all solution for onboarding programmes. Choose a format that works best for your company and new hires.
Involve Everyone: Onboarding is not just the responsibility of the HR team. Everyone in the organisation has a role to play in welcoming new employees and helping them adjust to their new positions.
Make it a Priority: Don't wait until your new hire's first day to start planning their onboarding programme. Start planning as soon as you know they're joining the team.
Measure Your Success: How will you know if your onboarding programme is successful? Define what success looks like and track your progress towards those goals.
How can My Learning Hub help?
If you're looking for more tips on creating a successful onboarding programme, My Learning Hub has a range of resources that can help.
We offer e-learning courses on HR compliance, effective onboarding practices, and managing change in the workplace.
We are a cloud-based suite of learning tools that allows you to make a personalised onboarding programme for your employees.
Book a demo today to see how My Learning Hub can help create a successful onboarding programme for your company.
