Speak to any random HR Executive about retaining talented people and they’ll huff and puff, sigh and roll their eyes. And that’s all completely understandable because good talent is just so hard to find and then, once you’ve found it, it’s flipping hard to keep!
There are a number of factors that play a role in whether that talent stays or jumps ship sooner than you would like it to. One of those factors is your onboarding process.
If you think onboarding is a waste of time and effort, think again.
When someone is about to start working for your company, they will never be more motivated. They’re keen to start a new job, keen to meet your team, keen to identify with your brand, keen to grow through the ranks.
SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ENTHUSIASM!
Take their enthusiasm to new heights by providing an onboarding experience that wows, impresses and inspires them.
You can’t treat your new talent like cattle and expect them to give of their best and stay with the company. If you’re not prepared to give to them, don’t expect them to give of their talent, expertise and competence to the company.
To ensure a great, personalised experience, Ambrion.com offers this 9 Step guide to onboarding talent in 2023:
Preboarding — one week before
Step 1: Send a welcome email
Step 2: Organize their physical and digital workspace
Onboarding — the first day
Step 3: Be prepared to execute the details
Step 4: Make time for employee and manager relationship building
Step 5: Give them time to settle in
Onboarding — the first week
Step 6: Assign small, achievable tasks
Step 7: Schedule check-in meetings once daily
Step 8: Plan a team activity
Onboarding — the first 90 days
Step 9: Prioritize clear and consistent 1:1 meetings
When you make them feel at home, they won’t want to “run away from home”!
I’m currently conducting a leadership development programme for a financial services company which has high quality talent who perform at the top of their game.
What’s interesting is that almost all of them, have been with the company for decades – and have no plans to leave. And these are not “pew warmers” who are disengaged. They’re high performers who love their company because they have been made to feel it’s their home.
And that all starts with a powerful and personalised onboarding process!
Alan Hosking is the Publisher of HR Future magazine, www.hrfuture.net and @HRFuturemag. He is an internationally recognised authority on leadership competencies for the future and teaches experienced and younger business leaders how to lead with empathy, compassion, integrity, purpose and agility. He has been an Age Management Coach for two decades and is the author of parenting best seller What nobody Tells a New Father.
