More tips for smooth onboarding
iI previously shared some virtual onboarding strategies that will help get you — and your new employees — through their first days with your land trust. In this installment, I'll discusses more ideas for effective onboarding as you bring new hires up to speed in a virtual setting.
6. Consider a daily team conversation. Recreate office coffeepot chatter virtually. Encourage staff to talk about work, but also about life: tasty recipes, great hikes, favorite shows, pets, whatever. This can be a come-when-you-can option, but a new staffer should put them on the calendar to make connections with other staff.
7. Institute a daily manager check-in. Connect at least once a day with your new hire, whether with a formal agenda or just to talk about how it's going. A quick video call affirms your door is open.
8. Take teambuilding seriously. Ten months into the pandemic, many great ideas for virtual teambuilding are available. Explore your options to help your new hire get to know their colleagues more quickly. Also, encourage staff members to schedule coffee with your new hire. New hires and managers alike highlighted the importance of teambuilding to me!
9. Introduce and schedule meetings with key personnel. Smooth the way for new relationships by sending introductory emails and scheduling meetings with internal staff and important external partners. Join as appropriate, but step back as soon as your new bird is ready to fly.
10. Normalize the weirdness. If staffers relocate to join your organization, they may feel even more isolated or disconnected from their routines and social lives. Keep the (virtual) door open to you and make clear any resources — such as mental health assistance — that may be available through your insurance carriers. Ask staff to share recommendations for outdoor activities, takeout restaurants, hidden local gems and such so their new colleague knows where to start.
11. Check in formally after 90 days. Plan a time to review your staffer's first months, including feedback on their onboarding experience and what they need to be successful moving forward.
While onboarding new staff looks a bit different these days, there's a lot of collected wisdom in our community on how to do it well. Congratulations on hiring a wonderful new colleague and good luck as you both move forward together!
Jennifer Miller Herzog is Eastern division director of field programs for the Land Trust Alliance. Special thanks to Land Trust Alliance staff Jake Faber, Lori Faeth, Marcia Hickson, Geraldine Mohr, Diana Norris, Andrew Szwak, Fran Taylor and Elizabeth Ward for contributing.