The welcome a new employee gets on their first day at a new job can have a massive impact on the rest of their tenure in that role. The induction process is an important part that must be executed in the best manner possible to have positive results. Discover the importance of the induction process in this snapshot of an interview between Dale Beaumont and Helen MacDonald.
As director of her own business development consultancy and co-director of national training company, The Learning Difference, Helen is committed to helping her clients create positive workplaces, in which employees are encouraged to do their very best. Her messages are delivered through conference presentations, training programs and executive coaching.
You’ve identified the induction process as the place where many major issues begin for new employees. Can you explain why this is the case?
Imagine turning up to your new job on day one – you’re excited and a little nervous. It’s a bit like your first day of school! When you arrive, the receptionist knows nothing about you and when she calls your new boss you overhear him saying, ‘Oh dear, was that today?’ He rushes out, most apologetic, muttering something about thinking that you were starting next week. Then, having managed to find you a spare desk, he announces that he’ll be back soon because he has an important meeting to attend. Sound ridiculous? Well, it may be a little exaggerated, but a lesser version of this sad and sorry saga is exactly what happens to many people when they start work. Rather than feeling welcomed and empowered to start contributing to their new employer, they feel like they are an unwanted interruption to the business.
The way we start people in a company is critical to their ability to fulfil the potential that we saw in their resume and interview. New employees need to know where they fit, what they are expected to do, who they can ask for help and what to do if things don’t go as planned. It’s useful for all employees, especially new ones, to understand the ‘rules of the game‘.
I often help clients to define what I call the ‘behaviour guidelines‘ for the business – how people are expected to behave and interact with each other. They also need to know the limits and boundaries in which to operate. Creating a process to welcome your new employee in a way that starts them off in the way you want them to continue will reap benefits for your business for the duration of their time with you. It’s also likely to extend their term of employment – people stay longer at companies where they feel they have belonged to the team from their very first day.
For more of this interview and the importance of the induction process check out “Secrets of Top Business Builders Exposed!“
