Onboarding

Abstract

First impressions matter, and the onboarding experience is the most substantial first impression your company will deliver to new employees. In the “Recruiting” and “Selection” chapters we noted that how you treat people from the earliest stages (even before they are hired) will influence their experience and connection to the company and, in turn, their motivation to perform their best. It will also affect the perception of the company by other stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and the broader community in which the company operates. In this context, onboarding, the next phase in our HR lifecycle and the most in-depth early interaction between company and employee, is where the “rubber meets the road.” For example, a poor recruiting or selection experience for new may be offset by a thoughtful onboarding experience. However, a miserable onboarding experience will not only diminish employees’ morale and performance but likely motivate them to head for the exit sign, permanently. And the cost of replacing valued employees is extremely high, especially for family businesses.