There will come to a point in time when you would realize you need to hire. How should you make your new hire more comfortable in the environment on the first day, or even first week? Research has also shown that employees would be more productive in a comfortable environment.
You might want to follow these tips
Emphasize on the small details
The small details are usually what frustrates new comers so it is advisable that companies would have done the necessary to cover them. Simple details such as how to use the phone lines or how to use the photocopier machine are important.
Through the course of learning, you should also be showing instead of informing them about how to do it because some people might have been more visual. If you had just informed, and if the new hires are still uncertain, likely are – they would feel less inclined to ask you for fear of being judged.
Strong mentorship program
Mentorship programs are always recommended where the new hire is attached to someone who have more experience at the workplace. This experienced worker would be the one who would be sharing with them about how work is performed, and what are the correct procedures to get work done.
You should be choosing and allocating the mentors rather than let the new hires choose themselves and it is usually most effective when it is a two-way process: where both parties can learn from each other during the mentorship process.
During the mentorship process, it is a period when new employees are also allowed to make mistakes. Mentor should always let mentee have a hands-on approach, and to get them to do what they are tasked to do so they are aware if there are any mistakes which stands to be corrected. During this period, the importance of asking questions should also be stressed to new hires and there should never be a question too stupid to be answered.
Include your bosses
This will help you feel like there is an engagement from the higher ups. It is a simple procedure, but it also reflects the important of culture. Get the bosses to send a simple email to the new hire, or even better – get him to engage during the orientation program.
This allows each new employee to feel more connected and engaged during the process.
Go for lunch together
It should be mandatory that on people’s first day – there should be a get together lunch. During lunch, more personal topics should be shared in comparison to the usual corporate topics. Having lunch together, helps to form a bond between the team as well and it is the time when most small talks happen.
This is the time when friendships can start to develop.
Team bonding games
If you have the budget and the time, it is always a good idea to engage your team with a simple team bonding games together with new hires. Team bonding games create similar conversational topic with the new hires as well as the existing colleagues.
However, this should not be conducted too regularly until it disrupts your work.
Engage others
In a team, there should always have a meeting to engage others whenever there is a new hire. For instances, it is possible to go around the table to do a self-introduction to the new hire, as well as for the new hire to introduce himself properly to the team.
In addition, you could also engage existing employees to conduct presentations to other colleagues.
Through the course of learning, you should also be showing instead of informing them about how to do it because some people might have been more visual. If you had just informed, and if the new hires are still uncertain, likely are – they would feel less inclined to ask you for fear of being judged.