The Art of Effective Onboarding: Welcoming a Dozen New Team Members in NYC

In any organization, growth is an exciting prospect. It signifies progress, expansion, and the opportunity to bring fresh perspectives into the fold. Recently, Sharethrough embarked on a journey of growth by onboarding a dozen new members, namely in the Sales and Customer Success teams.

This milestone not only marks our commitment to expansion but also highlights the crucial role of effective onboarding in integrating new talent seamlessly.  You know the saying, it takes a village! Well, it definitely took a whole Sharethrough village to ensure the successful integration of our newest hires!

 In this post, we'll delve into the significance of proper onboarding, share insights from our recent experience, and provide some quick tips on how to ensure a successful onboarding process.

The Importance Of Proper Onboarding And Integration Of New Hires

‍Effective onboarding is more than just an administrative task; it's a strategic investment in the success of both the individual and the organization as a whole. Here's why it matters:

• Cultural Integration: Onboarding offers a prime opportunity to familiarize new hires with the company culture, values, and norms. By immersing them in the organization's ethos from the outset, it cultivates a sense of belonging and alignment with the company's mission.

• Productivity Boost: A well-planned onboarding process sets the stage for new hires to hit the ground running. By providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and training, organizations can accelerate the transition period, enabling employees to become productive contributors sooner.
• Retention and Engagement: Studies have shown that employees who experience a structured onboarding process are more likely to feel engaged and committed to their roles. By fostering a positive initial experience, organizations can enhance employee satisfaction and reduce turnover rates.
• Knowledge Transfer: Onboarding isn't just about acquainting new hires with their immediate responsibilities; it's also an opportunity to impart institutional knowledge. By facilitating interactions with key stakeholders and subject matter experts, organizations can accelerate the learning curve and empower employees to make informed decisions.

Insights from Our Recent Experience:

Our recent onboarding journey provided invaluable insights into the dynamics of integrating new team members. Here are some of our key takeaways:

• Personalized Approach: Recognizing that each new hire brings unique skills and experiences to the table, we tailored our onboarding process to accommodate individual needs. From assigning mentors to customizing training modules, personalization was at the forefront of our approach.
• Clear Communication: Transparent communication emerged as a cornerstone of our onboarding strategy. By setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and maintaining open lines of communication, we fostered a culture of trust and collaboration from day one.
• Engagement Initiatives: We recognized the importance of fostering camaraderie among team members, particularly in a remote work environment. We gathered everyone together for a two days in our beautiful NYC office. Through icebreakers, team-building activities, and informal meet-and-greet sessions, as well as presenters from various departments, we prioritized relationship-building to nurture a sense of community.

Quick Tips for Successful Onboarding:

Based on our experience, here are some quick tips for organizations embarking on the onboarding journey:

• Start Early: Begin the onboarding process before the new hire's start date to streamline administrative tasks and set expectations.
• Provide Clear Guidelines: Outline the onboarding process, expectations, and resources in a comprehensive guide to empower new hires.
• Assign a Buddy: Pair each new hire with a mentor who can offer guidance, support, and insights into the company culture.
• Encourage Feedback: Create opportunities for new hires to provide feedback on their onboarding experience to continuously refine and improve the process.
• IRL: Where possible, offer in real life personal interactions. 
  

See what one recent new hire, Toby Sanders, had to say about his assigned Buddy..

What Did Sharethrough's New Arrivals Have To Say?

Here is what Andrew Kim, Strategic Account Lead, in Los Angeles has to say:  The onboarding process at Sharethrough has been amazing! I've had support since the day I was hired by my team and manager. I also attended personalized training sessions with fellow new hires which accelerated my learning path and helped me feel welcomed as a remote employee. Thank you everyone for all the support!

Karen Sumanis, Strategic Account Director in Chicago says ‘The onboarding process at Sharethrough has been incredible. I felt the team was very invested in ramping me up quickly yet  efficiently. The highlight was a 2 day new hire training in which I could meet other new hires and leadership team members. I found value in the content and effort put into the onboarding sessions. I always feel a sense of comfort and have plenty of open doors to ask questions and resources at my disposal to continue to learn.’

Toby Sanders, Strategic Account Lead in New York : The onboarding process was really phenomenal & exceeded my expectations! From the fun ice-breaker games to the small group training sessions, I felt valued and supported from day one. As a hybrid employee, I appreciate the effort in fostering connections not just within my office, but company-wide.

Effective onboarding is not merely a checklist item; it's a strategic imperative for organizations looking to nurture talent, drive engagement, and foster a culture of excellence. By embracing personalized approaches, fostering clear communication, and prioritizing engagement initiatives, organizations can set new hires up for success and lay the groundwork for long-term growth.