CULTURE AUDIT: PART 2
There are many areas in a workplace to look for cultural clues: meetings/gatherings, physical space design, team projects, hiring practices, client facing practices, and more. In my experience, one key area that indicates culture in any institution is the way people are onboarded. I have distinct memories of the first days at the schools I have worked in. Why is this? These onboarding times have an impact and create lasting impressions on a person’s experience.
A poor onboarding experience can leave employees feeling uncomfortable, confused, and dejected.
–A Guide to Onboarding for New Hires (For First-Time Managers)
According to Harvard Business Review, onboarding is defined as “the crucial process through which new employees acquire the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to integrate into an organization.” Onboarding can have great impact on an employee’s overall experience and retention at a company. I remember one school in which I did not get a tour of the campus, so I was perpetually lost in my understanding of the lay out and the interplay of the many offices that I did not interact with on a daily basis. I remember another school where after the first day of orientation, I never saw the cohort that started with me again until graduation. Another school spent two days, helping people get to know the campus and each other. We met key people whom we may need throughout the year and might impact our work. We learned the history of the school. We met in our cohort periodically over the year.
Reflection Questions to Consider for Onboarding:
How are people welcomed into a community?
How are resources, time, and, energy spent in this area?
How do you get feedback on ways to improve?
How do you want people to feel after the onboarding experience?
What experiences will reflect that?
How you welcome people into your organization matters. Take the time to consider these questions and more. Align the onboarding experience with your company’s values and mission. The experiences from day one can set the tone for years to come.
