6 Onboarding Strategies to Get Your Staff on Board a Lot Faster • AxiomQ

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January 21, 2024 Business

One of the main reasons why companies ask for people with experience is in hopes that they’ll be productive right away. Training new employees and waiting for them to get enough experience to be considered a senior is arduous and expensive.

However, even when you bring in an expert, it might take them a while to get accustomed to your working style. This is called an onboarding process, and it can be significantly sped up with the help of some onboarding strategies.

1. Personalized welcome

The first thing you need to do is ensure that your new team member knows that they’re becoming a part of your team today.

This is their first step in your corporate culture, which is why it’s important to help them understand these unwritten rules as well.

Keep in mind that different people get adjusted at a different pace. For some people, it will take longer than for the others.

Most importantly, before anything else, tell them who to ask if they have any questions. To you, who are so long in this enterprise, the answer to this question may sound simple; however, there’s no harm in pointing it out either way.

2. A structured onboarding plan

When making an onboarding plan, you must stick to a certain structure. Create charts to outline the introduction as the first step, but what about the rest of the roadmap?

Ideally, you can create a timeline so the new employee understands what lies ahead.

For instance, their first day at the office should be reserved for orientation. Showing them the premises tools they will use in their work and introducing them to their coworkers.

Week one should focus on the development of essential skills for work. On-the-job shadowing, introduction to their team members, and introduction to their responsibilities are the priorities in this stage.

Past this, it’s just honing and improving their skills.

3. Continuous feedback

Another thing to understand is that you must develop a rapport relying on continuous feedback. Just asking if they’ve got it after every sentence will not cut it. People are trying to make a good first impression, and they’re not all as outspoken as they could/should be. This is what creates the problem.

Even if they ask you a question once, twice, and three times, the fourth time, they’ll pause for a bit; no one wants to paint themselves as completely ignorant (even if this has nothing to do with reality). So, you need to get the right feedback out of them. Try to figure out by their behavior if they’re actually getting it or just keeping track of what you’re talking about.

In this context, understanding the importance of planning for higher education can be quite beneficial. It helps in developing strategies to encourage open communication and effective learning, ensuring that all parties are on the same page and fully comprehend the subject matter.

A mini quiz or a survey is a good way to get ahead. In a way, this is similar to assessing their engagement.

4. Introduction with technology and tools

The biggest part of onboarding lies in teaching people the ropes of the platforms you use for work. For instance, different companies use different project management platforms, so it might take a while if they’ve worked on Basecamp in their previous firm and are now expected to switch to Monday or Trello.

Remember that while all these platforms already have their learning resources (an intro video, etc.), different companies use them differently. So, you want to assign them a mentor. You need someone who has worked under this model for a while to engage with them and give them a

few insider tips. This will benefit everyone and even help them become a part of the collective.

In addition to leveraging these project management tools, it’s crucial to consider the broader aspect of team integration, particularly in the realm of digital communication and social media interaction. This is where resources like DesignRush’s social media marketing agencies can play a significant role.

You can check them out here: https://www.designrush.com/agency/social-media-marketing

These agencies offer insights into effective social media strategies and provide guidance on how to harmonize these approaches with your current project management systems.

5. Flexibility

Different employees will have different preferred learning styles, and you must adjust to this. All you need to do is prepare learning materials in several different formats. You must understand that while most people are visual learners, this won’t always be the case. Sure, this takes a lot of work, and preparing all these materials will be more complex, but the benefits will be great.

Also, while you do have the time by which you want them to master the subject in question, don’t push this too hard or insist on it. Take your time and show some understanding toward newcomers.

6. Post-onboarding performance review

The truth is that you’ll know the real results of your onboarding in weeks after. You need to see if they have it right after 30 or 90 days.

Remember that even the best onboarding doesn’t cover everything, but if you’ve done your job right, they’ll know who to ask for guidance. They’ll have the tools to navigate these problems if you’ve done your job right. When they have a problem, they’ll know who to ask. Also, this will help you see if they’ve done some independent research/experimentation. Onboarding will only get one so far. Natural curiosity should kick in, as well.

Wrap up

Onboarding is inevitable. It’s a process that doesn’t have an alternative. Even if you don’t structure it according to these strategies, you still can’t avoid it. Just telling a new employee where to sit and what to do is already onboarding. So, since you already have to do it, why not do it right? This might not be as difficult with the help of the above-listed six tips.

About the author:

Nebojsa Jankovic is a seasoned professional in the SEO and link-building industry with significant expertise and a history of leading successful teams. With a keen focus on client satisfaction, his team at Heroic Rankings has built a reputation for hard work, high standards, and consistent results.