How to make new employees more productive more quickly

It’s a goal that many organisations have, how to make new employees more productive more quickly.  How to make new employees more productive more quicklyYou’ve spent a lot of time, money and energy on recruiting them in the first place. It’s not unreasonable that you now want a quick return on your investment is it?
In theory, no, but in practice, probably, yes. There are a number of answers to how to make new employees more productive more quickly. The simple and most straightforward is to design a really thorough induction programme. Just because the new recruit has the skills you were looking for, doesn’t mean they will telepathically know what you want from them as an employee. They need to know “how things work round here”. You have to ensure that they get that information early on, and are monitored to assure them (and you) that they are picking it up correctly.
The new recruit, hopefully, will be enthusiastic, keen to learn and keen to make an impression. Your induction programme needs to capitalise on this. How enthusiastic would you be if you spent your first week just following people around, listening to what goes on, reading brochures and watching company videos? Not as enthusiastic at the end of the week as you were at the beginning we would bet!

What do new recruits think of inductions?

It’s often ineffective. It’s boring, gives too much information, too much irrelevant information and being left to their own devices.

Plan your induction programme

Proper planning and preparation are key to the success of inducting your new employee. Think about

  • What information do new employees need to know?
  • What kind of impression do you want to convey?
  • Are key people available to meet and greet the new employee?
  • What policies and procedures do new employees need to know straight away?
  • Can the induction process begin before the new employee starts their first day? Are there some documents that they can read before day one?
  • How long will induction process last? Effective induction programmes can last up to six months, the length of the process will depend on many different factors such as the employee’s previous experience.

Then think again, what does your new recruit want to know? Induction should not be a one way stream of communication.  How about asking them? Ask them if there is anything that they are particularly interested in learning more about and do your best to include it in the induction process.

You only get one chance to make a first impression

Put a lot of effort into day one.

  • What information are you going to tell them about where to park, best way to get to the building etc?
  • Decide who’s going to meet the new person?
  • Who’s going to make sure that their IT/phone is set up and working?
  • Who’s going to show them basic stuff, tea/coffee-making, toilets, fire exits etc?
  • Are you going to give them a “buddy”? A named person that they can contact if they’ve any questions, and someone who can informally check in with them during the first day and first week.

Differentiate between Induction Training and Job Training

Induction training relates to the organisation, the values, structure and history of the organisation. The big picture stuff.
Job training relates to the specific role that the new employee will fulfil.
You need to cover induction information during induction, but that doesn’t have to be all that the new recruit does in the induction period. Include job related training too. For example, your IT systems, how do they work, every company’s is different. Maybe get them to send a “Hello everybody” e-mail introducing themselves to colleagues in the company as a first use of the email system.
It’s especially important that any area of compliance, things that the new recruit must do, or not do, /are a high priority during induction.

How to make new employees more productive more quickly

Understand the reasons why you are providing an induction to a new employee. Remember that the induction process shouldn’t start and end on the first day, effective induction programmes should begin before the new employee arrives and should continue until the employee is an able member of the team. That’s the answer to the question of how to make new employees more productive more quickly.
If you would like to talk to us about how to make new employees more productive more quickly in your organisation call us now on 01706 565332 or email us and we’ll come back to you as soon as we can.
 
Metis HR is a professional HR Consultancy based in the North West of England supporting clients across the country. We specialise in providing outsourced HR services to small and medium-sized businesses. Call us now on 01706 565332 to discuss how we may help you.

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