Welcome to the world of remote onboarding!
As a business owner, you know that bringing on new employees can be an exciting time of growth and new opportunities. But when your employee is remote, it can also come with a unique set of challenges. That’s why it’s essential to ensure you have a comprehensive plan for remote onboarding to ensure your new employee has the best possible experience.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to successfully navigate the remote onboarding process and nail it for your new employee.
What Is Remote Onboarding?
Onboarding is a process of introducing and engaging new employees in your company. Do it well, and you will have a more loyal and happy team member for longer.
Do it badly, forget-about-it!
Remote onboarding… is the same. Do it all online with a mix of video, phone, audio, Chat, email and online training, and you’ll be in great shape.
You need to invest plenty of time in the first month or so in providing the necessary tools, resources, and knowledge they need to excel in their new role. Unlike traditional onboarding processes, which involve meeting with other team members in person and taking a tour of the physical workspace, remote onboarding is conducted entirely online.
Remote onboarding includes:
- introducing the employee to their new colleagues,
- assigning tasks,
- familiarizing them with the company culture,
- and providing them with the necessary tools and resources to do their job effectively.
- It also involves providing guidance on how to navigate the remote workplace, such as setting up video conferencing software, creating a personal workspace, and other digital communication guidelines.
The ultimate goal of remote onboarding is to ensure that new employees quickly become comfortable in their new role and can perform at the highest level.
The Benefits of Remote Onboarding
Remote onboarding is an important and effective way to ensure your new employees are properly equipped to hit the ground running. While it may be different from traditional in-person onboarding, many advantages come with remote onboarding.
First, remote onboarding allows for a more organized and efficient onboarding process. It’s easy to schedule remote meetings with all the right people, which allows you to quickly introduce new hires to key members of the team. Additionally, you can easily share documents and resources with them, making getting them up to speed easier.
Another benefit of remote onboarding is that it enables you to save money. You won’t have to spend money on travel and accommodations when onboarding a new employee from afar. This means you can use those savings to invest in other areas of your business, such as training and development.
Finally, remote onboarding makes it easier for your new employee to adjust to their role. Without the distraction of a busy office environment, they can focus more on their tasks and become comfortable with their new surroundings.
Remote onboarding is a great way to ensure your new employee is properly introduced to the company and its culture. By leveraging the benefits that come with it, you can set up your new hire for success and keep your onboarding process running smoothly.
How to Set Up a Successful Remote Onboarding Process
For successful remote onboarding, it’s essential to provide clear instructions, materials, and guidance to the new hire. Here are some tips for setting up a successful remote onboarding process:
- Send out a welcome package before day 1: Yes, mail them something nice in the post. Old-fashioned? Yes! Yet so very welcomed by your new team member in those nerve-wracking days leading up to starting their new job with you.
- Pre-Day One: Set up an introduction call with the new line manager. If it’s you as the business owner, think about sending a video email. It’s a fun way to send them a hi and to let them know you’re excited about what you can achieve together. Use BombBomb or Dubb to send these emails.
- Day One: Prep, process and documents day. Have a discussion of the company’s goals and expectations for the new hire. Do it over a coffee via Google Meet or Zoom (it’s not as weird as it sounds!)
- Week One: Have patience, dear Business Owner. Your new team member is finding their feet this first week. Set them small tasks and accountabilities to allow them to get up to speed. Remember, your focus for the onboarding is to ‘Set THEM (and you!) up for success!
- Month 1: Set month one expectations and share your month two expectations also. Work towards them together. Ensure all of the following are readily available… and remember to be patient whilst they learn your processes and systems – job-specific training materials, tutorials on any necessary software, and links to any internal resources or websites that may be useful to your new employee.
- Month 2: Review progress against your month one expectations, agree your month two and start thinking about your month three. They may still be in their honeymoon period, where everything is still exciting. However, by the end of month two, you start to see the glimmers of brilliance you recognised in the hiring process.
- Month 3: You’ve had regular check-ins at the end of month one, two and three. Your onboarding to set everyone up for success. Is the plan working? Or do you need a course correction? Now is the time to address any specific skills gaps or cracks that may be forming now the honeymoon period is behind you. During these check-ins, be sure to answer any questions they may have and provide additional help if needed. Clearly address any issues and ensure everyone agrees on the actions needed.
- Rinse and repeat for months 4, 5 and 6
- Provide feedback and support: Most of the small businesses we help, have a six-month probation period. It can take longer to get into things with remote roles hence the longer time for this initial onboarding phase. Be sure to let the new hire know that you’re available for any questions or concerns they may have about the job or their responsibilities.
By following these tips, you can set up a successful remote onboarding process and help ensure that your new hire is able to transition into their role smoothly. Remote onboarding is an effective way to bring on new employees without sacrificing quality or efficiency. Make sure you get it right!
Patience is very often needed in the probationary period by everyone involved.
So, are you ready to start your hiring process with a difference?
If you still need a hand or two, why not have a chat with the team here at Your People Partners? We love helping your business thrive.
Further reading
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- Using AI in Hiring to Find Better TalentThe job market is tough, and finding great employees can make or break your small business. This is where AI in hiring… Read more: Using AI in Hiring to Find Better Talent
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