Up Your Onboarding Game

Managers who care spend countless hours helping new hires understand and navigate the intricacies of the organization, often leaving no time to properly introduce the why and the passion of the organization. Worse still, managers who don’t care leave new hires to flounder, especially killing productivity and engagement over the initial months. 

An organization can up its onboarding game by investing in a Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver introductory content and training materials, and map out the onboarding experience. Setting it up once (with continuous improvement) can save hundreds or thousands of hours per year in mid-sized organizations. The systems are interactive and allow for the use of multiple media platforms within each module (video, slide presentations, audio, articles, links to information). Testing can be integrated anywhere within the module and can be interactive with a manager or other support person. 

General Categories to cover in the LMS include:

• Leader’s Message: Explaining the organization’s Mission, Vision and Values is the leader’s responsibility. You also need to portray your passion for the work, and how and why it has become a passion for so many others in the organization. Touch on this year’s business plan – what are the key objectives; what is your organization’s value proposition (why do customers choose you).  Record a video to capture this and provide a consistent message to every new-hire.
• Organization Basics: What software is used; how & where are documents filed; company policies and where to find them; HR benefits, pay, expenses; company product/service information; top customer list; any other information that employees need to know.

• Training: Start with the basic requirements like safety training and over time develop modules for key positions to provide them with information and/or test them on their knowledge, and how they solve problems.  Case study examples are an option for managers or sales team members.

For managers and senior leadership, a professional onboarding program frees up time for those critical first interactions to be focused on the new hire rather than a one-way spiel.  These initial meetings set the tone going forward so the greater the focus on the individual, their capabilities, desires, passions and values the better.

Make it a priority to invest in your new employees so that you and your new teammates will feel the benefit on Day 1.