Company onboarding is one of the most pivotal experiences within the employee lifecycle. According to a Gallup poll, employees who have a strong onboarding experience are 2.6 times more likely to be fulfilled at the workplace. Like any other first impression, the quality and execution of an onboarding program will have long and short-term effects throughout the company and beyond.

An effective and engaging onboarding program can build the foundation for new employees to connect, grow and contribute within the organization. They will be introduced to key players and leaders, understanding their roles and responsibilities. They will learn and understand the company’s mission, vision, and values while recognizing ways to add value. They will foster positive relationships with their colleagues that will sustain them throughout their career.

This might seem like a tall order to fill, but it is entirely possible when you build an onboarding program with collaboration and socialization in mind. Although self-led learning can be an effective and fulfilling element within any training program, including onboarding, the benefits of learning with others are more dynamic in this setting. As we all know, it is not easy being a new employee, especially in isolation. Fortunately, there are several strategies that you can use to ensure that your most impressionable employees feel supported and engaged during onboarding.

Avoid Solo Onboarding Classes

With increasing project demands, tight deadlines, and job vacancies, it seems only right to hire and onboard an employee as soon as possible, even if they are the only new hire of the onboarding cycle. Unfortunately, this strategy often does more harm than good.

One person onboarding classes not only put a strain on resources, but they also rob the employee of rich social experiences that can only be attained within a larger group. Some activities and exercises may lose their effectiveness, and a more introverted employee may feel additional pressure or unwanted attention from facilitators because they are the only one in the audience.

If possible, try to set an onboarding schedule for your organization or department to follow. For example, your onboarding program could begin on the second Tuesday of every month to avoid the chaos of Monday mornings and end of the month reporting. Additionally, setting a schedule for onboarding ensures that there are enough employees within the class to maximize the agenda.

Curate a Socially Friendly Environment

This tip may seem obvious, but it is often overlooked. New employees should feel warmly welcomed and encouraged to connect with others frequently through their surroundings. To achieve this for an in-person training, create a welcome sign that acknowledges the new hires and informs more seasoned employees of their arrival. Arrange the seating in a way that promotes organic dialogue. Schedule guest speakers, like senior leaders and employees in specialty areas to present information and foster new connections.

Staying connected during a remote onboarding session is also essential! Whether your organization uses Zoom, Teams or another collaboration platform, it would benefit you to learn about its advanced features. Besides audio and video calls, what other ways can you engage your new hires? Practice using breakout rooms and white boards and thoughtfully integrate them into the agenda. Research the features that could take your onboarding program up a notch, like Mesh for Microsoft Teams.  Remember, technology can used for hybrid and in-person classes as well, so don’t be afraid of trying something new to enhance your onboarding program. What matters most is that you select the right tools for your organization and that you use them with confidence.

Select Activities that Work Best Within a Teams Setting

eLearning courses, participant guides and other self-study tools are essential during new employee onboarding. To supplement those resources, group activities should be integrated into the program as well. Team building exercises during onboarding can widen an employee’s perspective on various topics, help them process information quicker and enhance social skills, which will contribute greatly to on-the-job success.

When selecting or designing these activities, it is ok to think beyond the training room. Create a scavenger hunt in which employees have to find special landmarks around the office. Want to see how much product knowledge they have retained? Ask them to create a two-minute sales pitch to advertise the benefits of one of your most popular products and services. If you have a competitive group, lighten the mood with a round of heads-up using acronyms and glossary terms from your organization, using Power Point slides or giant flashcards.

The onboarding training program is a vital component of employee success and engagement. It may be tempting to bypass it to save time, money, and other resources. No matter the reason, however, it is important to remember that all new hires are just that—new, and they will need a supportive, enriching and collaborative space to become more acclimated to their new environment.

A collaborative onboarding program is one that creates space for organic connections and socialized learning, which will help new employees confidently navigate their new workplace, not just in the beginning, but for years to come.