Get Good Employees…For Keeps!

Just a few weeks ago, Robert and I posed a question to our BusinessCast blog readers and BusinessCast Podcast listeners. We asked: “How often do you update your employee orientation program?”

We were surprised to find that despite the time involved in finding good employees, the cost of losing good employees and the importance that employees contribute to every entrepreneur’s success, the answer was “less than once a year” – over 95% of the time!

So, in our BusinessCast Podcast, Get New Employees Up and Running we answered a host of practical questions, including:

How important is a good employee orientation?

What should a good employee orientation look like?

What are the key components of an effective employee orientation program?

Who should design, participate, lead and measure your employee orientation program?

When does orientation truly begin?

How do you know that your employee orientation is successful?

How can you/when should you review and improve your employee orientation?

Well, if you’re still wondering how much effort you should put into ‘on-boarding‘ you new employees, the researchers Booz Allen Hamilton have some sobering findings – that should intrigue, inspire and incite you to action, now.

Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes 

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Get New Employees Up and Running – Part 3 – Secrets for Your Success

In BusinessCast podcast show #59 Get New Employees Up and Running, we tackle employee orientation. Why should you care? If you want to achieve any of the following objectives, listen to the show:

• Give the impression that your company is a good place to work
• Give an accurate sense of what it is like to work at your company
• Reduce new employees’ ‘ramp up’ time for getting familiar with your company’s culture, required skills and technologies
• Reduce employee turnover rates – and associated costs
• Inspire new employees to become ambassadors for your company

Chances are that you want to achieve several of these objectives. So, here are some of the key secrets you need to include in your employee orientation initiatives:

• Identify those meetings that new employees need to attend, or participate in, so that they feel as if they’re part of the culture. 
• Keep in mind that how a new employee thinks about your company begins prior to the first day on-the-job (i.e. during your recruitment and interviews).
• Make sure that employees feel like they are part of the team. A great way of doing this is by assigning a ‘buddy’ during the first six-to-eight weeks of a new employee starting work.
• Spend some time with your new employee to learn about their skills and career aspirations.
• Think of your potential new employees as your most important prospect. So, make sure that every interaction your company has with them is professional, respectful and reinforces your company’s core values.
• Ask your current employees to provide input in developing, monitoring and updating your employee orientation program.

Developing a successful employee orientation will save you time, energy and money. And, now, you’ve got some of the essentials tools to get underway! Remember, let us know about the innovative ways you orient your new employees.

 

Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes

 

Get New Employees Up and Running – Part 1

 

You’re always perfecting the processes for getting your newly acquired customers comfortable. It’s one of your keys to success. And, its an area you would never think about neglecting.

 

But, what about doing the same thing for an audience that is just as important as your customers – probably even more important – your employees!

 

A good employee orientation is so much more than just making sure that key forms are filled out or that new employees know where to find the nearest Tim Hortons. The truth of the matter is that if you have a well-developed employee orientation you are going to have much better employee retention. And, all entrepreneurs know the importance of retaining good employees.

 

In BusinessCast podcast #59 – Get New Employees Up and Running – we provide answers for questions that entrepreneurs are always struggling with, including:

• How important is a good employee orientation?
• What should a good employee orientation look like?
• What are the key components of an effective employee orientation program?
• Who should design, participate, lead and measure your employee orientation program?
• When does orientation truly begin?
• How do you know that your employee orientation is successful?
• How can you/when should you review and improve your employee orientation?

If you’ve ever wondered about how best to orient your new employees, now’s the time to get a quick primer: Listen to BusinessCast podcast #59 and you will truly Get New Employees Up and Running.

 

Remember: Subscribe to the BusinessCast Podcast at iTunes