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Offer supportive climate to settle in new hires
New recruits normally take a while before they settle down in their new jobs. The first few days are often the toughest for the new hires no matter what their position. The new recruits come to the office with mixed feelings of anticipation and apprehension. They are no doubt excited about their jobs but at the same time they are apprehensive about the new setting in which they have to function. They are confident about their ability to perform well but it is usually the f
ear of the unknown that is responsible for the initial jitters.
Will they be able to mesh well with the direct supervisors and other co-workers and fit into the new set up is the question upper most on the minds of the new employees. Co-worker synergy and cultural fit are extremely important to succeed at work. Therefore it is crucial to make your new hires feel like part of your team right from day one. Extend a hearty welcome that drives away their apprehensions and helps them navigate through the unfamiliar territory with ease.
Many organisations have formal induction and orientation programs to make the new employees understand the organisational culture, technology and know how employed. Usually these sessions spanning about two days introduce the newcomers to the organisation’s vision, mission, goals and objectives. They will also help them learn about the work ethics, the HR practices and career prospects in the company. However this being just an overview about the company their apprehensions about the work, the colleagues and the boss continue to bother them. So after the induction program when they come to the actual work setting they still carry the anxiety regarding the new environment. You as the manager have to break the ice. This will give them a nice first impression about your division and your team. You may sketch your welcome plans on the following lines in order to speed up the acclimatisation process and help the new members reach their peak performance levels quickly.:
Have the infrastructure in place: Make sure that the seating arrangements, telephones, computers and other necessary infrastructure are in place by the time the new employees come to office. If a group of people are joining your team put up a nicely decorated banner to welcome them. If a lateral hire is coming to take charge, place a bouquet of flowers on his desk to show that you are glad to have him on your team.
Help them with paper work: Usually new recruits are made to fill lots of forms by the HR. They feel disconnected if they are made to do the form filling the whole day sitting in the HR department. Instead allow them to do the job sitting in their own cubicle. Offer help to make them feel at ease.
Take care of the little things: Assign some of your team members the duty of providing the necessary help to the new hires during the first few days till they get into the swing of things. It is a good idea to introduce the new hires to the other team members and supervisors through a team party. It is often the little things such as using the phone system, finding the way to cafeteria, rest rooms, library and other common facilities that bother the new members. Usually large organisations are very complex and there is every chance of new recruits getting lost in the corridors. So provide them with a floor plan to help them go where they want to without getting confused.
Help them mingle fast: Update them about any meetings, presentations and upcoming events. A supportive climate helps them to learn about and adjust to their co-workers, comprehend rules and regulations and also understand the unwritten conventions among the employees. See that they have effective team players by their side to help them learn the ropes soon enough. Find out about their interests and special skills and assign suitable projects that make the best use of their talents and also keep them happy and satisfied.
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N.PURNIMA SRIKRISHNA
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