A successful onboarding process enables new employees to be part of a company culture right from the start. It gives them access to materials, information and tools needed to work towards common goals in the most productive way. Studies show that the first 90 days of employment are the most crucial days in building rapport with the company and co-workers.
Michael Falcon, founder of Experience Academy capsulizes onboarding as “…the design of what your employees feel, see and hear after they have been hired.” It is also good to remember that onboarding initiatives, before the actual job offer, enhances the connectivity between the candidate and the future employer.
When an onboarding program is well-done and put to action, it can prevent serious failures in areas that often challenge new employees: relationship development, productivity, delivering high-quality work and real understanding of the company culture.
Here is what you should know about the benefits of onboarding
Attract new talent
You want the best talent to work for your company. Talented employees know their worth; when you have a good onboarding process, they can see you are on top of your game – closing the deal is easy. Your onboarding process should show your new employees your excitement and make them feel heard and valued, which helps you to retain them. First impression counts!
“Onboarding can be described as the direct bridge between the promise of new employee talent and the attainment of actual productivity.” (Strategic HR Review)
Consistent and strong knowledge distribution
Make sure everyone is one the same page. An onboarding process is a consistent strategic plan rather than just “whipping” something up every time someone new comes along. A process should be repeatable to secure that everyone in the house has the same key information to reach their full potential. Though beware of an information overload on the first day.
Building trust
Information sharing builds trust between the employees and the employer. A good way to make new employees even more connected and motivated is to have them meet senior managers to hear the strategic objectives of the company.
Employee engagement and connectivity
Strong connectivity among co-workers enhances employee engagement. You should make sure your onboarding process includes strong employee-to-employee interaction options. A good way to enhance possible new employee engagement is to ask candidates to attend a company event or to sit in on a meeting to experience a ‘day in the life’ of the company. A chance to meet an enthusiastic existing company employee might make the candidates more inclined to accept the job offer.
Open communication
Open and transparent communication strengthens company culture and eliminates barriers. It can be intimidating for new employees to ask too many questions, but providing a way through a program makes it immediately easier.
Efficiency and productivity
If a new employee feels a high level of support, engagement, and unity from co-workers and management, they will most likely have positive attitudes towards the company, which becomes apparent in increased efficiency and productivity.
Reduces employee turnover rate
Employees who leave your company can negatively affect the culture, as well as increase replacement costs. Studies have gathered that it can cost a company up to 40 percent of an annual salary to hire a new employee. Onboarding processes reduce employee turnover by helping you find a better fit for your company from the start.
Business growth
Not only do you get all the mentioned above benefits for your company, a successful onboarding process also accelerates your business growth. If your employees are highly motivated, efficient and productive it can only have a positive effect on your financial status.
All of these positive aspects enable an organisation to spend more time on delivering actual results and striving for strategic goals. If you don’t have a successful onboarding process yet, now is definitely the time to get onboard.
