The specialized website for recruiters ERE.net has recently published an article containing practical tips on how to streamline the process of integrating new employees into the corporate culture. In the article, David Lee, an internationally recognized expert on employee engagement and onboarding, describes how to tell if your onboarding process is satisfactory and introduces specific steps he himself recommended to one of his recent clients - a hotel chain. In this article, we summarize the second half of these steps, the first part of the article can be read here.
7. Create a special site for newcomers on your intranet
Ask managers and current employees to help you compile a list of the most common questions of newcomers and prepare responses to post on the intranet. Focus not only on what new employees actually ask, but also on what they should ask.
8. Teach managers to perceive new employees as "hotel guests"
Managers' task is to ensure that the newcomers feel welcome, comfortable, safe, and important, and that they are not afraid to ask for what they need. The aim is to provide them with a positive experience.
9. Show examples of the corporate vision of behavior
Stories of the existing employees can help you here again. Target them to show newcomers your cultural values and to help them understand what behavior helps you achieve your business goals and strengthen your brand the best.
10. Watch how newcomers are doing
Build a culture in which the existing employees will know that they should perceive what their new colleagues may need and offer them a helping hand even if they explicitly would not ask for it. Be their inspiration in how they should behave to customers.
11. Train managers
The more you make it easier for them to onboard new employees, the more they will do it. Especially the managers who don't hire newcomers to their teams very often will appreciate training as well as other supporting materials.
12. Train employees
Remind your staff that helping newcomers understand and adapt to your corporate values is a responsibility of everyone in the organization.
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