Getting an employee familiar with their roles and their job is a process that always takes time, but how do you integrate that employee into your business’s culture? Too many organizations overlook — or at the very least, misunderstand — the process of onboarding as a critical step in the growth and success of your operations as well as your culture.
Don’t neglect this opportunity to strengthen your business. Learn more about onboarding, what it is, and the benefits it can bring to your team.
Orientation vs. Onboarding
Onboarding is sometimes confused with orientation, or the process of introducing a new employee to the organization, its mission and vision, HR policies, compensation and benefits, and regular operations, usually taking place either on the first day or within the first week of hiring. While both processes are important, some key differences set the two apart.
For example, onboarding is an ongoing process that could last years and is designed to completely immerse an employee into the company culture and prepare them to contribute to the team independently. When employers consistently meet with employees, engage in a two-way dialogue, and challenge them, employees will usually gain a clearer understanding of their role, facilitate training, weave themselves into the culture, and ultimately socialize with team members.
While orientation is limited to new hires, onboarding can be applied to both new hires and internal promotions. Onboarding gives employees a better understanding of how they contribute to a company’s bigger picture by challenging them to take greater ownership of their role and providing avenues for feedback.
Benefits of Onboarding
An effective and successful onboarding process may take time but will bring many benefits for both the employer and the employee before it’s even completed. As employees become more comfortable in their roles within the company, the following benefits will become evident.
More engaged employees — The more you meet with an employee and encourage them to work independently, the more employees will find room to grow in their position and become more comfortable implementing their own decisions, not constantly relying on the employer’s. Additionally, as employees become more autonomous in their roles, they will become more likely to share their own ideas. This will lead to more innovative solutions from the company and will make employees feel appreciated and listened to.
Stronger work culture — When an employee buys into your work culture, it strengthens the ideals your organization has fostered. As employees accept the company’s mission and goals, they will use their abilities to contribute to those goals in new ways, strengthening the company’s commitments to its purpose.
Reduced turnover — Employees who are more engaged with their work are less likely to leave. As employees become more engaged with their work, they take greater pride in their role within the organization and are more motivated to stay.
Appeal to job seekers — If an onboarding process is done successfully, you’ll have done more than create a strong, capable worker — you’ll also have a brand advocate. Employees who buy into your company’s culture will want to share their experience with others, including job seekers who will then see your organization as an employer of choice.
Ready to strengthen your company culture? We can help. Learn more about onboarding and other Strategic HR Consulting services or call us at 309.863.1202.
