Putting "newbies" on the Fast Track! Workplace Success Myths and Tips

Workplace Success Myths & Tips

June 2011

Ahhh, it's Summer! For some it means slowing down and taking a much needed vacation BUT for others it means a new start in a new job.

Remember the excitement you felt the first day in a new job? Perhaps it was a combination of anxiety and excitement. Both are physiological responses that allow for heightened awareness and personal readiness to adapt, learn, and grow.

Employers--especially supervisors--need to align their actions with the energy of new employees as they arrive on the job! Far too often we hear stories of employers not being ready for new employees. It's a sad commentary to go through all the effort and expense of recruitment then be unprepared for the arrival of the new employee.

As summer heats up, remember to make sure new employees have a "hot" job from Day One. The first few days on the job are directly related to employee productivity and retention!

Workplace Myth #9
"It takes time to get employees integrated and productive so starting them off with reading manuals

is okay."

This is a myth! It's not okay; it is a waste of a new employee's enthusiasm and energy. The reality is that new employees lack context and ability to clarify what's important. So it's unlikely they will understand and assimilate the information so early in their careers.

The International Institute for Management Development reports U.S. and U.K. businesses lose an estimated $37 billion every year because employees do not fully understand their jobs. Gaining an understanding of one's job begins on day one!

Today's Workplace Trend:
Onboarding Effectively--companies want to maximize their investment in employees--and therefore, want employees to be productive from their first day on the job. Here are some ways to make your investment in new hires work for you:

Best practices for onboarding include actions before and upon arrival that make the new employee feel valued and wanted. Research shows that effective onboarding increases employee retention and productivity. The process for effectively onboarding is unique and individualized. Although there is no "one size fits all" there are several common ingredients to an effective approach:

1. Provide basic employee information for review prior to their arrival.

2. Announce the employee's arrival to co-workers and others in the organization including their role, location, and an expectation of their support to welcome the newbie and make personal contact.

3. Create an agenda with the employee for their first month. If you are the supervisor, dedicate time and make it a priority in your schedule. On the agenda include:

Intermittent time with supervisor to get to know the employee; discuss organization purpose, goals, values, culture; explain how their job fits and contributes to the overall results; and time to answer questions.
Time to spend with important peers and co-workers to develop an interpersonal relationship and begin building their network.
Opportunities to participate/attend meetings and reviews as a way of becoming a familiar face and becoming immersed in the day to day work.

4. Create and stick to a plan to follow up with the employee on regular intervals to make sure they have what they need and have a venue for getting answers.

The bottom line--make new employees feel they are wanted and needed. In some organizations there are delays in equipping a new employee with the tools they need to do their job. Use this delay to your advantage and focus on developing relationships. Remember new employees are eager and ready. They can learn a great deal from observation and informal conversations.