Onboarding is a necessary part of setting employees up for success, so how does a small business owner properly introduce new hires to job requirements and the company culture?
Often, the first day on a new job is pretty crazy, and it is very difficult to get everything figured out. Not only should your newest employee know how to perform his or her job, the person should be prepared with the right mindset and told exactly what to expect. Don't just assume that the discussions you and the individual had prior to his or her first day were informative enough. Do more to set the employee up for a successful run at your small business. Check out some of the tips below for advice on how to best onboard a new hire:
1. What is the value of your business?
For an employee to be successful at any company, he or she must understand what the business offers consumers, and why it is better than its competitors, according to Inc. There has to be something about your business that fuels results, and your latest hire will need to thoroughly understand what that is and why. Once you've related the advantages your business has, describe how the new employee's specific position creates value as well.
2. Don't forget your culture
When describing the value your business provides, don't forget to relate to the new hire the culture that you and your employees promote, Business 2 Community recommended. This should be an opportunity for your new hire to learn every little thing about the company that they are working for, not just what he or she needs for the position. One way to introduce new hires to the company culture is to pair them with an employees who can show them the ropes. Banks aren't all about financial services, each one has a culture that differentiates it. Make sure to describe how your business stands out in its own industry.
3. Send the paperwork over early
A new job can be very exciting, until you get into the office and sit down to a stack of papers to fill out on your first day. This is why Business 2 Community recommended sending over paperwork early, so that your new hire can spend his or her first day doing something more beneficial. This way, you can start the employee's day with orientation, and explain his or her role, rather than wait for the paperwork to be completed before explaining the details of the position.
4. Set up goals immediately, and be just as quick with feedback
In order to teach your new hires about how important production is in your small business, set up every employee with at least one job-related task to complete on his or her first day, Inc. suggested. By doing this, you will show the new hire how important getting work done is to you. In addition, everyone will go home with a sense of accomplishment following their first days. An entire day dedicated to orientation is boring and will make the eventual transition to work more difficult.
5. Explain why you hired the new employee
During the orientation process, the reasons why an individual was hired in the first place often get lost in the shuffle, Inc. noted. When you hire someone, sit down with him or her at some point during onboarding and explain exactly why you made the hire. Everyone is brought into the company fold for one reason or another, so don't forget to make that known. Heap praise upon the new employee when describing why you hired him or her, and it will probably be appreciated.