In the dynamic and competitive landscape of today´s corporate arena, an organization´s triumph is fundamentally reliant on its capability to attract, engage and retain top-tier talent. As the workforce continues to evolve, grappling with challenges such as talent scarcity, soaring turnover rates, and transformative shifts in work dynamics, companies must acknowledge the pivotal significance of employee onboarding when determining their future. The onboarding process has transcended the realm of mere paperwork completion; it now stands as a strategic investment that wields the potential to exert a profound influence on a company´s financial performance and overarching success.
Defining a Comprehensive Onboarding Program
A structured onboarding program must evolve into a meticulously guided journey, one that equips new hires to meet specific objectives, while ensuring an exceptional experience that fosters a deep affinity for the company. Consequently, onboarding is no longer a procedural task relegated solely to the HR department; rather, it has emerged as a strategic cornerstone of the organization. It requires meticulous planning of objectives, phases, involved stakeholders, specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for gauging efficacy, and the implementation of tools geared towards continuous improvement.
“To make onboarding work, HR leaders need to design a consistent, creative and deeply engaging experience that wows new employees.” – Gallup
The Significance of Onboarding Programs
In many corporations, the objectives of onboarding programs remain unclear. Often, onboarding is viewed as a reactive process, primarily aimed at facilitating new hires with essential paperwork, providing necessary equipment, and delivering a basic introduction to the company´s operations. Forward-thinking teams, however, recognize that onboarding presents a remarkable opportunity to impress new hires, efficiently bring them up to speed, and set them up for success. A Harvard Business Review article notes that a systematic approach to onboarding accelerates new employees’ readiness by up to 50%, translating to more rapid and effective contributions towards achieving organizational goals.
A recent study by Gallup found that only 12% of employees “strongly agree” their organization does a great job at onboarding new employees. This has a negative impact on employee retention rates which results in higher company costs to attract and effectively onboard new talent.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), employee turnover can be as much as 50% in the first four months for hourly workers, and 50% in the first 18 months for senior outside hires. – Harvard Business Review article
Collaborative Stakeholder Involvement in Onboarding
HR is far from being the sole entity responsible for designing and executing an exemplary onboarding journey. Numerous stakeholders must collaborate and prepare to welcome new hires. This initial interaction serves as the first opportunity to create a lasting positive impression, reassuring new hires that they have made the right decision by joining the organization. The onboarding journey encompasses a spectrum of activities and interactions, including administrative formalities, general company knowledge, role-specific training, and social engagement. This underscores the need for various teams to actively participate in the process, including HR, IT, direct managers, onboarding buddies, and any other teams integral to the new hire´s daily work. Crucially, these stakeholders must be well-prepared and proficient in their interactions to ensure that new hires enjoy a seamless and gratifying experience.
Gallup finds that when managers take an active role in onboarding, employees are 3.4 times as likely to “strongly agree” their onboarding experience was exceptional. - Gallup
Implementing an Outstanding Onboarding Journey
Define Strategic Objectives Clearly outline the strategic objectives of the onboarding journey, aligning them with the desired outcomes the organization expects to achieve. | | Tailor Content Activities Craft tailored onboarding journeys with specific content and activities that cover the unique needs of each role within the organization. |
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Phased Approach Recognize that onboarding commences even before the new hire´s start date. Structure the process into distinct phases, each with well-defined objectives. | | Effective Communication Develop a communication strategy that engages all stakeholders throughout the entire process, keeping everyone informed and engaged. |
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Real-time Tracking Provide real-time data visibility to monitor the progress of each new hire’s onboarding journey. | | |
“Compared with employees who rate their onboarding at a "4" or below on a 5-point scale, employees who give their onboarding a "5" are about twice as likely to “strongly agree” that they feel fully prepared and supported to excel in their new role.” - Gallup