Onboarding can be a dreadful experience for both employers and employees. Sometimes, people consider them a formality, and many don’t take them seriously. However, you know how vital it is for you and the new hires. Click here for what is digital onboarding.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean you must take it too seriously and formally. Onboarding can be fun, exciting, and effective. And if you want to know the dos and don’ts of an exciting team member onboarding process, continue reading.
- Do: Add Some Unique Events Or Elements In Your Onboarding
The new employees you’re about to onboard might already be team members before. They have an idea of what will happen, and it’s challenging to be excited by predictable events. So, to spice things up, make sure you add some unique elements in your onboarding process to make it unpredictable yet fun and exciting.
The first thing you should do is to think of some fun ways to welcome new employees. One of the things you can do is to include a special event during their onboarding process. You can hire someone to do a magic show, onboard them inside a mystery room, or you can host a simple party. The possibilities are endless.
- Don’t: Leave Them On A Cubicle Together With Their New Team
Don’t just leave the neophytes on their new team without adequately introducing them first and ensuring they’ve warmed up with their new workmates. Indeed, when you get started in the company, you know how it feels to be in a new environment where you don’t know anyone. It’s not an exhilarating feeling, it’s awkward, unpleasant, and sometimes worrisome.
Additionally, you should exercise extra caution if there is a significant age gap between the new and old personnel. It will be more difficult for the new hires to fit into their respective teams the greater the age gap is.
Of course, don’t expect them to swiftly navigate their first few months working alone and determine what has to be done. In high-pressure environments, four out of ten new hires believe they need someone to show them how to complete their tasks.
Therefore, if your business is small and you have the time, follow up the onboarding procedure with additional training. If you’re unable to do that, ask someone to take over.
- Do: Make The Process Fast, Easy, And Convenient
Be aware that 4% of new hires quit their new job because they didn’t like their first day. And you might want to create the best first impression you can if you don’t want the newcomers to end up in those statistics.
You may make an excellent first impression by ensuring the onboarding process is quick, easy, and comfortable for the new employees. Make sure they don’t have to wade through mountains of paperwork. The last thing an exciting new hire wants to happen on their first day is to fill out forms and pass documents.
- Don’t: Make New Hires Attend The Onboarding Unprepared
Ensure you don’t just spring up the onboarding process for your new team members when you see them. After they sign their contracts, inform them exactly when they will start and undergo your company’s onboarding process. You don’t want them to think that you’re already giving them workplace mistreatment on the get-go.
- Do: Dress Appropriately And Present Yourself Properly
The last thing your new employees expect is someone underdressed with messy hair to onboard them in their new job. An unprofessional appearance during your first meet and greet with new employees can quickly drain all the excitement out of the room.
You should prepare and be ready for the new hires. Dress appropriately, and make sure you look presentable.
- Don’t: Forget About Setting Their Expectations
It’s important to remember that the onboarding process isn’t all about fun and excitement. At some point, you need to get down to business. When you do, don’t forget to set expectations for the new hires.
Tell them what their colleagues would expect of them. Give them simple goals they can achieve at their current level of experience. However, don’t be tempted to give them easy ones. Make sure that their skill matches the challenges they will face. You don’t want them to burn out quickly.
Conclusion
Finally, don’t just read this post and then forget about it. Take notes and organize the onboarding procedure for your new staff. Be systematic, and make sure that all dos and don’ts are followed.
You can do many additional things to make their onboarding experience more engaging and enjoyable. The only limit is your imagination. However, don’t overdo it to avoid making the new hires feel embarrassed and uneasy around you.