A solid onboarding process can make a significant difference in the experience for a new hire, and ultimately, their success within the organization. The sooner they can contribute and do their job properly, the sooner they’ll feel like a valuable member of the company.
But what does onboarding mean? You may already be doing it, but if you’re not, it’s time to create an effective onboarding plan, which is the process by which a new hire is initiated into the company. That includes providing key information in areas like the employee’s specific role, the company culture and policies, which starts during the recruitment and hiring process and can stretch over the course of several months or even the entire first year.
If you’re not sure why onboarding is so important, these reasons will provide a better understanding.
A Headstart for Success
The onboarding process can provide a headstart on getting integrated within the company so that a new employee can feel like part of the team which sets them up on a path for success. Many studies conducted over the years have found this to be essential. One conducted by the Wynhurst Group revealed that a newly hired employee is much more likely to still be working at the company three years later if they completed a structured onboarding process.
Onboarding can begin before their first day. Rather than placing an overwhelming stack of papers on their desk to fill out when they arrive, send them a welcome email with documents attached that can be filled out and electronically signed ahead of time.
It Helps to Cultivate a Strong Work Culture
Even for a small business with limited resources, having a good onboarding program is a wise investment. It helps to cultivate a stronger culture within the workplace as new hires will feel more welcome from the start, understand how the organization works, and what’s expected from them. Good first impressions count, and last, which is why they’ll be more likely to stick around. If you can’t retain employees, you’re obviously going to lose a lot of time and money from the recruitment process to training.
Improving Productivity and Performance
A new hire won’t know how to perform their duties to the best of their ability if proper training for the role isn’t provided through an onboarding process. As a result, they’re unlikely to work efficiently or be as productive. They may make a lot of errors that can be costly to the company while also negatively impacting their self-confidence. This is a poor start to any job which leaves both the employee and company less than satisfied. For anyone to perform at a high standard, they need to be educated on best practices, processes, and expectations. When a new hire understands what the expectations are from day one, they perform better.
Reducing Stress on Co-Workers and Management
When a new employee has the knowledge and all the tools they need to do their job from the start, they’re much more likely to be able to do the work according to company standards. They won’t have to continuously wander around asking for help, supplies, or other things they need, which can put stress on other staff and management, not to mention add to their own frustration.
