This week the Wily Manager guys talk about new employee onboarding. Some organizations have great HR support and infrastructure around this function – others are not so lucky, but all managers should be concerned with the way in which people are brought into their organization.
Monday’s Tip: Start with the legal stuff. Make a list of all the various forms, policies, procedures and administration that will be required to properly bring someone into your organization.
Tuesday’s Tip: Arrange for job-specific tools in advance. Computers, tools, supplies and equipment that are required for someone to perform their tasks need to be arranged in advance. More than one person has started a job, to sit at a desk without a computer for the first week.
Wednesday’s Tip: Assist people to adapt to the culture. Tell new people what the mission, vision and values of your organization are. Tell stories about how you operate as an organization. What things is it famous for? What does it want to be famous for?
Thursday’s Tip: Accelerate their success from the first day. Ensure that expectations are crystal clear; provide written goals; tell them how they’ll be evaluated; set up regular one on one meetings; identify and address developmental opportunities.
Friday’s Tip: Be available. If you are the hiring manager, you need to do your best to meet people personally on their first day, and spend as much time as you can with them at the outset.