The competitive job market and talent shortage have made many companies’ hiring processes longer and costlier. One proactive way companies can overcome this situation is by creating and promoting positive and effective onboarding processes. But what exactly is an onboarding process?
Onboarding is the process of integrating new employees within a company and its culture. It includes the practices of providing the new hire with the tools, information, and training needed to become a productive member of your team and get acclimated to their new position. As a result, employees can quickly grasp their role, what is expected from them, and the company’s culture.
But let’s see why onboarding is important and key to the success of every business.
Why is the Onboarding Process Necessary?
Onboarding is an extensive process that requires effective communication and good planning to succeed. During this time, the employer (the HR team, more specifically) needs to communicate clearly and understandably with the new employees to foster better understanding and engagement. In addition, the process also means that the new staff is provided with training, knowledge, and resources needed to succeed in their new position.
However, an exceptionally executed onboarding does more than acclimate employees to their roles and the company’s philosophies. It also engages them by creating workers committed to the company’s success. Furthermore, it helps companies retain new hires by making them feel like a part of the team, hence decreasing employee engagement costs.
Why Should You Have (And What to Include in) an Onboarding Program?
A well-planned and successful onboarding program for new employees is crucial in welcoming new employees and retaining talent. Let’s see quickly why:
1. It Enables Easy Acclimation and Team Building
A well-planned onboarding process gives the new employee a clear picture of the company’s aims and objectives. It also builds a sense of community, allowing them to get a head start and quickly acclimate with the company and team. And the best tool to use for this process is onboarding icebreakers.
Icebreaker tools are an excellent way for the HR team to share (and learn) valuable information with new employees in a relaxed and casual setting. Furthermore, they are ideal for a friendly introduction because they provide team members with a fun venue to get to know each other better and share their thoughts, likes, and dislikes, thus facilitating team connection.
2. It Assists in Setting Expectations
Onboarding allows employers to equip new hires to become prosperous and productive team members. To achieve that, the employer and employee should discuss how the new staff member can contribute to the company’s goals within their role.
Explaining what the company expects helps them aspire for success and builds trust. But it also allows the company to inform employees what it can do for them. That being said, employees can, for example, benefit from career development opportunities, a mentorship program, or benefits such as monthly gym offers or transportation tickets. Regardless of what the perks are, it makes the new hire aware that the company cares.
3. It Increases Engagement
A well-executed onboarding process demonstrates that the company is dedicated to its people, which, in turn, creates engaged employees with a reliable connection to the company. Taking the time to train new hires and making them feel at home makes them more likely to be committed and engaged.
Once they learn the company’s perspective and understand what it has to offer, they are more likely to identify themselves and their professional goals with those of the company. Engaged employees give 100% each day because they genuinely care about their company and want it to grow and meet its organizational goals. Companies with more engaged employees achieve better results and higher revenue.
4. It Helps With Employee Retention
Onboarding is also necessary because employees are more likely to stay once they know that the company cares for their continuous professional development and is open to compensation. Investing in ongoing professional development is an excellent and proactive policy that can enrich the company’s onboarding process. This aspect can do wonders when securing your investment in new talents.
However, employee retention is also crucial for your company’s success because high turnover is problematic and expensive. On one side, there are the costs of losing productivity, know-how, and time. On the other are the costs for hiring people for temporary work, recruiting potential candidates, and performing background checks. So, a comprehensive onboarding process can benefit both sides.
The Bottom Line
Hiring employees is one of the most significant investments your business can make, so you need to ensure that these investments pay off. That is why onboarding matters so much.
By integrating new employees into your company, you support them to become engaged team members. And engaged employees are more productive and have a higher likelihood of sticking around since they care equally about their own and the company’s performance goals.
That means that ultimately onboarding also greatly influences retaining top talent and securing your company’s long-term success.