Employee onboarding and orientation can be a stressful and overwhelming experience for both the new employee and the company. One common issue is a lack of adequate preparation and support from the employer. This can leave the new employee feeling lost and unsure of their role and responsibilities.
Equifax states that 40% of all employee turnover happens in the first six months. Another 16% happens in the next six months. Therefore 56% of all turnover happens in the first year. Imagine the amount of time and money being spent to recruit, hire and train 56% of your employees who will not be with you in a year?
Another issue is a lack of clear communication and direction from the company. This can lead to confusion and frustration for the new employee, as they may not know who to go to for help or support. This can also create a negative impression of the company and make the new employee less likely to stay with the organization long-term.
Poorly designed onboarding and orientation processes can also make it difficult for new employees to integrate into the company culture and work effectively with their colleagues. This can lead to a lack of collaboration and productivity, which can have a negative impact on the company as a whole.
Overall, bad experiences with employee onboarding and orientation can have a detrimental effect on both the new employee and the company. But as an HR Manager, you don’t have to become a superhero to improve the onboarding experience for your new employees. But you will seem like one when you deploy a few simple but powerful strategies.
It is important for employers to carefully plan and execute these processes in order to ensure a smooth transition and successful integration of new employees into the organization. By implementing these strategies, companies can improve their employee onboarding processes and set new hires up for success. A positive onboarding experience can help new employees feel valued and supported, increasing job satisfaction and retention.
Effective onboarding can help new employees feel welcomed, supported, and prepared to excel in their roles, while poor onboarding can lead to confusion, frustration, and turnover. Here are a few ways that companies can improve their employee onboarding processes:
Get a Head Start
Start onboarding before the employee’s first day. Many companies wait until an employee’s first day to begin the onboarding process, but this can be overwhelming for the new hire. Instead, companies should provide new employees with information and resources before their first day, such as an employee handbook and introductions to their team members. This can help new hires feel more prepared and less anxious on their first day. This should include an overview of the company’s mission and values, as well as detailed information about the new hire’s specific role and responsibilities.
Provide a personalized onboarding experience.
One-size-fits-all onboarding programs may not be effective for every employee. Companies should take the time to understand each new hire’s individual needs and tailor their onboarding experience accordingly. This could include providing additional training or support for employees who are new to the industry or offering flexible onboarding schedules for employees with unique personal or professional obligations.
It’s also important to introduce the new hire to their colleagues and provide opportunities for them to ask questions and get to know their team. Involving new hires in the decision-making process and giving them opportunities to provide feedback can also improve employee onboarding. Hiring managers can ask for input on onboarding processes, solicit suggestions for improvements, and encourage new hires to speak up if they have any concerns. Hiring managers can create a more collaborative and inclusive work environment by involving new hires in the decision-making process.
Involve the entire team in the onboarding process.
Onboarding doesn’t just involve the new hire and their manager – it should involve the entire team. Employees should be encouraged to reach out to the new hire and offer support and guidance. This can help the new hire feel more connected to the team and facilitate a smoother transition into their new role.
Follow up and check in regularly.
Onboarding doesn’t end on the employee’s first day – it’s an ongoing process. Companies should regularly check in with new hires to ensure that they are settling into their role and receiving the support they need. This could involve scheduled check-ins with the new hire’s manager, as well as opportunities for the new hire to provide feedback and ask questions.
Overall, improving employee onboarding for hiring managers requires a comprehensive approach that includes a thorough orientation program, ongoing support and training, a positive and inclusive work environment, and opportunities for new hires to be involved in decision-making and provide feedback. By focusing on these key areas, hiring managers can help ensure that new employees feel welcome, supported, and equipped to succeed in their roles.
The DISC Assessment and Onboarding
One of the key ways the DISC Assessment can help you improve onboarding is by providing a deeper understanding of how to personalize the experience for a variety of profile types. Because the DISC Assessment provides insights into an individual’s behavioral tendencies, communication, and decision-making style, hiring managers can use it to tailor onboarding programs.
The assessment is based on the idea that individuals tend to exhibit certain behaviors in response to different situations. For example, a new hire who scores high in Decisive is likely to be assertive and direct in their communication style, while the new person who scores high in Influencing is more likely to be persuasive and outgoing.
The DISC assessment can be used by new employees to better understand their own behavior and how it may be perceived by others. It can also be used by organizations to identify the most effective way to communicate with and motivate new hires.
Overall, the DISC assessment is a valuable tool for understanding and improving onboarding by improving overall communication and teamwork within your organization. By providing insight into individual behavior, it can help individuals and teams work more effectively and efficiently together to welcome, train, and deploy new team members.
