October

Have you ever been lost on a dark, lonely road in a foreign part of town or another country? Remember that panicky feeling. That’s the experience of many new employees. They have been wooed by an organization that now seems virtually to ignore them. They can barely find the bathroom, much less the conference room, or the sales floor, or the operations center.

If you’ve invested in hiring someone, prepare for their arrival with a good orientation plan. Give them the basic tools they need to make the contribution that you are expecting of them. Make sure their space and equipment are ready when they arrive. Introduce them to staff and give them a tour of the facility. Most Human Resources departments have an introductory package of helpful information. If you don’t have such a department, or the information is so generic that it doesn’t meet your new employee’s needs, put one together that includes valuable information such as a list of internal and external contacts, policies and procedures, current calendar or schedules for actions and meetings, the goals/mission/strategic plan, etc. Most importantly, give them the time to actually read it, ask questions, and meet one on one with coworkers for clarification on things they find confusing. An orientation schedule that lays out what your new hire will do in his/her first day or two will keep both of you on track in building a strong, profitable professional relationship.