Properly onboarding new hires is an important process in small business and will set the stage for an employee’s performance over the course of their tenure with your organization. Here we explore five key steps for making your onboarding process a success.

Introductions

There are several introductions to be made when a new hire is brought on. First, you’ll want to introduce them to your staff members and those they’ll be working closely with. After that you’ll want to have them meet your management team and their direct report. These formal introductions help your new hires feel like they are a part of your business. It also lets them know who to go to in case of an issue.

Company Policies

Just about every company has a set of policies that they expect their employees to abide by. Going over these early on in a new hire’s employment will ensure you’ve set clear expectations and that they know how your business is run. This can help to avoid future issues and make it so they fit in and are more compatible with your current staff. Having them sign a copy of your policies acknowledging that they’ve read and understand them will give you leverage should issues arise.

Company Overview

Your company overview should consist of the history of your company, its mission statement and the values you’d like to be associated with your business. This lets your new hires know what your company stands for and can help to create employee loyalty right from the start. Letting them know what you stand for will help them to feel like they are a part of something special.

Partner Up

Assigning your new hires an experienced and trustworthy “buddy” to show them the ropes and get them comfortable with your operation is a great way to make them feel like a part of the team. It gives them a go-to person for any questions they may have and an example to follow. Choose who you partner them up with wisely, as this is more than likely going to be who they emulate for the entirety of their employment.

Solicit And Answer Questions

New hires can at times be hesitant to ask questions because of a fear that they will be perceived as not understanding or slow to learn. This can be extremely detrimental to their performance. Taking time out for a question and answer session will give them a comfortable environment to clarify anything they may be confused about.  It’s also an opportunity to go over FAQ’s from previous new hires.