From YEC
Onboarding new employees smoothly can be difficult.
Onboarding new employees, or introducing them to your company's procedures and processes, can be difficult to get right. Many companies fumble with this part of the process, leaving new hires feeling overwhelmed and confused. But how well onboarding is done can have a huge impact on how well new employees integrate into the organization and their future success. We asked her YEC members for their best advice to find out the best practices employers should take to ensure the employee onboarding process goes smoothly.
What are the key steps employers should take during onboarding to ensure new hires are successful from day one?
Best practices for onboarding new employees
1. Provide new hires with a list of team members who can provide assistance
We provide new hires with a short list of team members from various departments who can be resources for them. These team members are ready to answer your questions because they know they are a resource. This process allows new employees to feel more comfortable asking questions and asking for help. —Nanxi Liu, Blaze.tech
2. Set clear expectations
One of the key steps employers can take to help new employees succeed quickly during the onboarding stage is to provide clear expectations and support. This includes providing thorough training, assigning mentors and peers, and regular check-ins to address any questions or concerns. —Evan Nierman, Red Banyan
3. Make sure learning materials and tools are up to date
If you want to ensure the success of your new employee onboarding process, it's a good idea to review and constantly update the tools and materials you provide. It's best to provide information in multiple formats, such as print and video, to accommodate different learning styles. For best results, combine this with personal instruction from one or more of her experienced employees. —Karin Kassaboff, Protexing
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4. Assign onboarding buddies
Combine a thorough orientation with an onboarding buddy assignment for up to 90 days. Additionally, assign a direct supervisor to support higher-level tasks and give them access to a comprehensive employee handbook and training materials. Along the way, we provide positive reinforcement for early success. —Givonna Sandiford, Melospeech
5. Monitor new hire progress
Assuming the onboarding process is streamlined, employers should make an effort to contact new employees to monitor progress throughout onboarding. A few small check-ins in the first few days and lessening the frequency over time will ensure success. Employees are often hesitant to ask for help because problems arise quickly in the first few days. —Jack Perkins, CFO Hub
6. Ask for feedback
The best way to find out if there are any gaps in your onboarding process is to talk to people who have recently gone through it and ask for their feedback. Ask new employees if they ever felt like they were missing something during onboarding. If you don't talk to people who have first-hand experience with your company's processes, you're shooting in the dark. —Jordan Conrad, Writing Explained
7. Thoroughly document standard operating procedures
The first step is to thoroughly document your SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). Provide clear guidelines for performing tasks and ensure that all team members, regardless of experience level, follow a standardized process. This streamlines workflows and facilitates smooth operations during transitions and separations. To set new team members up for success, it's important to lay the foundation before you start. —Thomas Smale, FE International
About the author
Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC) is an invitation-only organization comprised of the world's most successful young entrepreneurs.
