Induce Belonging During Onboarding Improves Retention

From the moment an employee accepts a job offer, their engagement becomes a fundamental aspect influencing workplace outcomes. I am part of a renowned global technology solutions provider that is in the process of reimagining the entire customer journey, starting with a comprehensive review and redesign of our onboarding strategy. Our primary objectives are to elevate the customer experience, boost engagement levels, retain top talent, and expedite the rate at which employees reach proficiency. This endeavor is aimed at better serving our workforce, which we consider our most valuable asset.

After conducting thorough analysis and extensive surveys of our onboarding process, we discovered that the majority of new hires tend to depart from the company within the initial three to six months of their employment. This underscores the importance of recognizing that effective onboarding goes beyond merely equipping new hires with the necessary tools for their roles. It equally involves building trust, fostering emotional connections with employees, and creating an environment where they feel secure and can cultivate enduring relationships within the organization.

To establish an effective onboarding program, it is essential to build its foundation upon psychological safety and a feeling of inclusion. With this awareness, we have incorporated these five crucial components into our onboarding program:

Comprehending the New Employee Experience- Uncertainty can cause discomfort in anyone. The uncertainties that come with commencing a fresh job can create difficulties for newcomers in maintaining their enthusiasm. Acknowledging that individuals naturally seek clarity, we endeavored to provide our staff with extensive tools to assist them during this transition and alleviate their concerns. We employed a robust pre-boarding website, integration manual, and an onboarding dashboard with a checklist to guarantee that new hires gain a thorough grasp of the organization and its expectations at every stage of their journey.

Enhanced Onboarding Process– It's quite common for new hires to feel overwhelmed by an abundance of information during their initial days. They often encounter a barrage of best practices, rules, and procedures, which can leave them feeling overwhelmed or unsure of themselves. To address this issue, we've extended the onboarding process and divided it into smaller, more manageable segments. We begin with the fundamental concepts and gradually introduce more advanced topics in easily digestible portions. This approach enables our employees to focus on and remember crucial information without becoming overwhelmed.

Social and Cultural Integration– Every individual seeks a sense of belonging and inclusion within a larger community. Within our employee onboarding program, we place significant emphasis on fostering social and cultural integration from the very beginning. By offering opportunities for engagement with our employee resource groups and onboarding champions, we create a secure space for our new team members to connect, participate, and seek guidance. This approach not only makes the onboarding experience more meaningful and memorable but also facilitates a smoother assimilation into our organizational values, norms, and procedures. It plays a pivotal role in shaping their interactions, communication, and collaboration skills.

Psychological Safety– Just as we hold expectations for our employees, our employees also hold expectations of our organization. Creating a psychologically secure environment is crucial because it enables the organization to comprehend and meet these employee expectations effectively. To achieve this, we equip our new hires with the necessary tools and resources to assert themselves. Our comprehensive psychological safety initiative empowers them to express their genuine thoughts and opinions without worrying about negative consequences. Our objective is to ensure that everyone feels comfortable bringing their true selves to work, taking risks, asking questions, and unlocking their full potential.

Leadership Cohesion– The alignment of our leaders is pivotal in fostering engagement and retaining talent within our organization. They serve as inspirational figures who motivate their teams to excel in their roles and discover a sense of purpose. Their commitment is essential in creating a workplace characterized by psychological safety. Our leaders wield a direct influence on either nurturing or impeding the ambitions of new hires. To ensure that our leaders lead by example alongside these new team members and exhibit a culture of support and inclusivity within our organization, we have introduced psychological safety training for leadership and provided structured reinforcement checkpoints throughout the onboarding journey.

Belonging and inclusion aren't just outcomes resulting from the onboarding process; they are also integral factors driving the onboarding experience. Cultivate a culture of belonging and inclusivity throughout your onboarding procedures, ensuring that your new hires feel embraced, honored, and appreciated. Encourage new hires to share their viewpoints, thoughts, and concerns, and engage with them empathetically and with genuine interest. Nourish a feeling of community and connection within new hires and their teams, facilitating opportunities for mutual learning and enjoyment. For instance, you can utilize icebreakers or interactive activities to foster initial connections and strengthen relationships among your new hires. Additionally, consider establishing affinity groups or networks to support their personal and professional development.