After hiring new employees, you must ensure that they receive proper training. Regardless of where your new employees were previously employed, or how much experience they have, each new employee deserves to become well-acquainted with your business so they can quickly adapt to their new position and surroundings.
Training your new employees is not only beneficial for them, but also for you. A well-trained employee will exude confidence in their role; will understand their responsibilities (not to mention your expectations); and will help your business grow and thrive.
Here are some of the best and most effective ways to introduce your new employees to your company—including the brand you’ve built, the environment you’ve established, and the culture you maintain.
Schedule a Luncheon
Starting a new job can feel quite intimidating, but your new employees can be put at ease by meeting their colleagues in a warm, welcoming, and friendly setting. If you can, schedule a luncheon either inside or outside the office that will allow your new employees to get to know you and all their new colleagues.
Invite Them to Ask Questions
Think about the last time you started a new job—did your employer share a lot of information with you? Perhaps too much all at once? Keep in mind that for as excited as your new employees must be to have secured this job—and as excited as you are to welcome them aboard—there’s a lot for them to take in during their first week or two on the job. Do reiterate to your new employees that they are welcome to ask questions, especially if they feel confused or unsure about a policy, procedure, or assignment.
Empower Them
Might one or more of your new employees need to learn how to operate a certain software, machine, or other type of tool that they must use on a regular basis? If so, take the time and make the effort to help them acquire the skills and knowledge they need rather than trust that they’ll figure it all out on their own. Enroll your new employees in a training course; conduct an insightful PowerPoint presentation; ask them to shadow one of your long-term employees . . . do what you must to prepare and equip your new employees to use the tools and resources that your company deems essential.
Review Company Culture
It’s likely your new employees did a lot of research on your company prior to their interview. They should be well aware of your company’s mission statement, values, and goals/objectives. It’s a good idea, however, to refresh their memories by initiating a discussion and/or sharing an informative training module. Make sure they understand when they can take lunch and for how long; how PTO is accrued; how they can request vacation days or sick days; how your company serves the community. These are all examples of company culture. Perhaps some or all of these details were discussed during the interview process, but it certainly won’t hurt for them to be repeated during the training process.
Set Realistic Goals and Provide Feedback
Your approach to training employees should include plenty of opportunities for your employees to achieve realistic goals. Make your new employees feel comfortable, not overwhelmed. Why? Because comfortability contributes to them establishing a positive morale. That said, provide feedback—the kind that will encourage them to learn, grow, and then help other employees do the same.
Encourage Team-Building
Team-building exercises can be a wonderful (and fun!) way to train employees. Your new employees should be given the chance to interact with their colleagues so they can earn each other’s trust; learn how to work together (especially if they are working in a fast-paced environment; if they routinely have strict deadlines to meet; and/or if their work involves encountering stressful, emotional, or high-pressure situations); establish respect for one another; and recognize the value of supporting one another. Examples of team-building exercises that can be held inside the office include a compliment circle and office trivia. Want to host an exercise outside of the office? You may want to consider booking an escape room.
Don’t forget that even after you have successfully trained your new employees, there’s nothing wrong with continued training and monitoring. Check in with them as often as you see fit in order to demonstrate how much you care about the work they’re performing and the value they’re adding to your company.
We’re confident that these ideas are some of the best ways to train employees, and we wish you luck throughout the training process. Remember, dedicate as much time as you can to training employees because your efforts can go a long way not only now, but also in the future. This is to say that your new employees could turn out to be some of your best employees, so if they receive proper training from the get-go, you enable them to relish a sense of personal pride and professional fulfillment within the workplace, which makes it all the more likely that you can retain them.
