A growing team means there will be a period of growing pains as team members get adjusted to the new workplace environment and learn how to interact with fellow employees. If you are responsible for hiring new employees, there are several things you can do to make sure employees are well adjusted and eager to start working. Taking steps to assist new recruits with the orientation process and encouraging team members to participate in staff events sooner rather than later are a few ways to help everyone get settled in. Here are some ways to avoid culture shock when your team grows:
Conduct Orientation Sessions
Make sure all employees attend orientation and are prepared to take materials home with them to review. You may want to set up a series of orientation sessions so new recruits can absorb all the materials and have some time to get settled in their new work environment. Make sure you leave space for employees to ask questions and get introduced to other team members and managers during the process.
Meet Team Members Individually
Take new employees out to lunch or set up a private meeting so you can have a more personal conversation with them. This is an opportunity to build rapport and get to know the employees better. It’s a good way to help new recruits feel more comfortable working with the new company and can also help you learn more about them.
Encourage Feedback
Provide an open-door policy for feedback and any problems the new employee may be encountering as they get situated in the new work place. Some employees may just need someone to talk to so make sure they know which managers they should reach out to if there are any problems. Alternatively, you could direct them to human resources to handle any problems or challenges that may arise.
A certain amount of culture shock is inevitable when starting a new job and there are several things you can do to make sure new employees are adjusting well to their new work environment. If you need tips to hire and retain quality employees, turn to Morris Bixby Group for assistance.