Hot take: employee onboarding is more important for managers than employees... Yes, I said it lol. But hear me out...
I've spent the last 10 years coaching managers on strategies to empower and enable their employees. From hiring, to performance management, to reward & recognition, there are critical steps in the employee journey that every manager needs to master. One of the most important moments that matters in the employee journey is onboarding. The onboarding experience a manager provides is make or break for the employee experience. But more importantly, it's a make or break moment for you as a manager!
One of the most important moments that matters in the employee journey is onboarding!
How many times have you heard a colleague say (or maybe you've said it yourself), "I just don't have time to onboard my new employee"? I've heard it more times than I can count; and I have to admit that I've said this myself early in my career. Too often, managers rely on a one or two-day onboarding program provided by the HR/People team and assume that is enough to prepare your employees for high-performance. But if you want to have a high-performing team which delivers results and ultimately makes YOUR job easier, it is critical to invest in employee onboarding.
An effective employee onboarding experience should span an average of 90 days. It should cover introductory topics like company goals, culture, and operations as well as job-specific training. But great onboarding extends beyond this. A great onboarding experience should also include regular performance checkins, performance shadowing, networking & relationship building, some fun, and much more!
The Data
Let's look at the data. SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management) found that employees who experience a great onboarding experience are 67% more likely to stay with a company for 3+ years. And those that went through a structured onboarding process are 58% more likely to be with an organization after 3 years.
On the flip side, there are serious consequences to managers and organizations if they don't invest in a strong onboarding experience. Studies show that up to 20% of employee turnover occurs within the first 45 days of employment - that's wild! Almost 33% of new hires start looking for a job within their first 6 months on the job, particularly if they don't feel connected to the organization. And if a new hires leaves, the impact cost to your organization can range from 100-300% of the replaced employee's salary.
There's little room for interpretation of the research - an effective onboarding program is crucial for success in today's organizations. A strong onboarding program is obviously great for new hires, but I believe it's even more important for managers.
Top 5 Reasons to Invest in Employee Onboarding
Here are the top 5 reasons why managers should invest in employee onboarding:
1. Employees Stay
As mentioned above, employees that have a strong onboarding experience are more than 67% more likely to stay with their organization for 3+ years. If you as a manager have a good employee stay for 3+ years, this is a HUGE win. This means you will have fewer periods of time when you are down a team member, and in turn have to do the work of the missing employee. This means you have to spend less time training and onboarding a new hire. It means you have more time to get your projects and day-to-day responsibilities completed. And ultimately, retaining your employees means less work for you!
2. Employees Give Effort
New hire onboarding is a high-impact activity to ensure employee engagement. Engaged employees are 2.5x more likely to exceed performance expectations. This is critical to understand as a manager because if you can engage your employees through a structured onboarding experience, your employee is more likely to put forth effort - a characteristic all managers appreciate. If your employee has a clear understanding of their job description (a critical onboarding activity), they are more likely to give 100% every day. With clear expectations, new employees understand what is expected of them and are more likely to meet expectations. And when an employee feels connected to an organization, they are more motivated to do a good job.
3. Employees Deliver Predictable Results
A core part of the onboarding experience is outlining the company, department, and team objectives and goals. This includes reviewing the job description and training team members on all aspects of their role. When done successfully and when expectations are clearly outlined, you as a manager can expect predictable results from your team members. This is a HUGE win for managers! When you can come in every day and know that your team member is going to deliver results, you can spend time focused on other mission critical projects.
4. Employees Collaborate
Something that is often overlooked during the onboarding experience (because it takes a lot of time) is facilitated relationship building. If you as a manager take the time to outline key partners across the organization that your team member should meet with AND take the time to facilitate introductions and give a templated outline for these discussions, you are setting your employee AND YOU up for success. If your team member forms relationships with colleagues, they will be more independent and more effective in their role. This allows for cross-business collaboration, stronger team dynamics, and allows for communication pathways to be established. In today's virtual world, we have to be more intentional about relationship building. And if we get it right, it can lead to enhanced collaboration which ultimately makes your life as a manager easier.
5. Employees Take Initiative
This might be the characteristic I love most in an employee - taking initiative. When an employee identifies an issue or opportunity and has the confidence to take initiative, as a manager I'm in heaven! If you facilitate a structured onboarding program, your employee will have a positive experience and want to impress you. They will feel heard and valued and be willing to put in a high level of effort. And if presented appropriately, new hires can take on a growth mindset where they see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
Onboarding Makes YOUR Job Easier as a Manager
I think we all know that new hire onboarding is important for a new employee - they learn how to do their job and learn about the company they are working for. But, the benefits to YOU as a manager are HUGE! If you take the time to invest up-front and onboard your new employees well, the results you'll see will be exponential. You will have employees who stay at your organization, who put in 100% every day, who perform predictably, collaborate, and take initiative. In my eyes, it's a no brainer! So next time you have a new employee joining your team, take the time to onboard them thoughtfully. In the long run, it'll make your job easier.
Keep your eye on the Growth Edge Project website for great manager resources, including guides and templates for onboarding new employees (coming soon!).
Make it a great one!
Jordan
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