4 Questions You Should Always Answer During Onboarding

Hiring the right people for your company can sometimes be a long and tiring process, but what about after you’ve made the decision?

You want all of your employees to feel right at home at your company. Well, proper onboarding is how you make sure of that.The problem is, onboarding methods vary from “sink or swim” to “follow this exact path, and don’t ever veer from it”. Either way, few onboarding systems are effective — at least from the perspective of those being brought on. You might not know it yet, but you could be ruining your new hire’s chance of success right from the get-go.You’ve probably heard that old saying “there’s nothing more expensive than an unsuccessful hire.” Believe me, it’s true. Hiring and onboarding is a very involved process, unique to every individual company.

No matter what your business does, you should make sure to always answer these four questions during the onboarding period.

‍How is performance measured?

‍You probably hire people based partly on their eagerness for the job and desire to do well. This is why it’s so important that you let them know exactly how their performance is going to be measured.There’s nothing worse than having an employee go into a three-month review with no idea where they stand or how they’re being evaluated. During the onboarding process, I like to come up with clear goals and indicators with my new hires. This way there’s no confusion when it comes time for a performance review.

‍What processes and tools should I understand?

‍It doesn’t matter what your new hire’s qualifications look like, you’re probably using tools they aren’t familiar with. From Slack to Asana to Basecamp, there are so many different platforms and project management tools under the sun, so don’t be surprised if your new employees aren’t familiar with what your company uses.Make sure to have a solid training plan in place for each software you use. It’s an added bonus if the person has used it before, but even if they haven’t, it’s always a good idea to have someone train them on the ins and outs of the platform.

‍Who do I talk to and for what?

‍We all know what it feels like to be the new person. It's overwhelming and intimidating, to say the least. That’s why it’s important that your new people know who they should talk to about what.Take your new hire on a tour of the company and introduce them to people from different departments. Along the way, point out what people are best to ask what types of questions. This will clear any confusion and best of all, save everyone time.

‍Where do I fit in this company?

‍Want your employees to follow your vision and reach those company goals? The only way to ensure they can do this is to make sure they understand your company mission right from day one.Everyone working for your business should understand your company’s reason for being. Why do you make a certain product, or provide a certain service, and why does it matter to you? You’ll notice that people work better when they have an understanding of the big picture, and how they fit into it.