Every business owner knows why employee retention is important, but not everyone is equipped with best employee retention strategies right from the get-go. If you are looking at how to improve employee retention in your business, you should always start by assessing your onboarding process. This is the initial interaction that anyone will have with your business and will pave the way for their continued perception of the company.
Deliver a positive experience
Firstly, you should ultimately strive to deliver a positive experience, as you will never be given the opportunity again to impact someone on their first day. Their energy will be unmatched, as they will be filled with anticipation, so you need to do all you can to maintain this excitement. The entire onboarding process should ideally begin before the prospective employee has officially joined the company.
For instance, you might send them a welcome message, some initial check-ins, and even some remote work tips. Similarly, their workstation should be set up before they arrive, along with their login credentials and a clear briefing of the job duties.
Document the entire process
Documenting everything can really speed up the entire onboarding process, as it’s a fact that people read faster than they listen. Additionally, your candidate won’t have to hastily jot down notes or ask hundreds of questions, as everything will be detailed within the onboarding document. This is also a handy tool for managers, as they’ll be able to keep track of where someone is within the training process.
On top of this, proper documentation allows for a smooth transition should managers leave the company. Similarly, many companies have continued to operate remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; consequently, proper documentation enhances the remote onboarding experience.
Add a personal touch
Something that can often go forgotten is that the onboarding process isn’t the sole responsibility of the manager. Instead, companies should put measures in place to ensure that everyone is doing their bit to welcome any newbies. This can be as simple as knowing the names and roles of new employees or pairing one of the new team members with an existing employee.
