Six Tips for Onboarding

Written By Stefanie Leiter

While interviews get most of the attention during hiring, it's onboarding that drives retention. Choosing the right candidate is just the beginning—how you welcome and integrate them matters most.

Yes, the tasks and skills are important, but don’t overlook the opportunity to sell your organization during onboarding. New employees shouldn’t have to guess your mission, values, or vision—they should see them in action from day one between team members and leadership.

Following these retention tips for onboarding new employees is proven to increase employee engagement in the first 18 months of new hires:

  • Focus on quality not length of your onboarding.

  • Provide ongoing guidance while they acclimate to their surroundings.

  • Expose employees to your culture.

  • Assign someone outside their supervisor to mentor.

  • Outline clear goals and your organization’s performance & value expectations.

  • Plan for their work station to be equipped from day one with their needed technology.

Shaping Communication helps assess your missional and cultural awareness to craft a compelling and engaging onboarding program unique to your organization. I can even help with remote teams. Connect today for a free 30-minute consultation.

Stefanie Leiter

My professional journey is rooted in strategic public relations, with a particular emphasis on proaction versus reaction. I believe that effective communication requires a deeper understanding of the impact on audience engagement. Recognizing the importance of global perspectives, I leverage my certification as a Cultural Intelligence (CQ) facilitator to integrate cross-cultural competency into all facets of my work, ensuring inclusive and impactful communication strategies.

My specialization in internal communications stems from a deep understanding of its critical role in organizational success. I am passionate about delivering tailored solutions that foster robust employee engagement, drive retention, and build resilient organizations prepared for potential crises. This includes developing proactive crisis communication plans that mitigate risk and maintain stakeholder trust. Furthermore, I contribute to leadership development by equipping leaders with the communication skills necessary to inspire and guide their teams.

In the academic sphere, I am dedicated to preparing the next generation of communication professionals. Through the implementation of client-based projects and interactive learning methodologies, I strive to bridge the gap between theory and practice. My goal is to equip students with the practical skills, critical thinking abilities, and ethical awareness necessary to thrive in a dynamic and competitive industry, empowering them to pursue fulfilling and purposeful careers.

StrengthsFinder Top 5: Discipline, Achiever, Context, Strategic, Learner

Enneagram: 2w1

https://shapingcommunication.com
Next

Shift to Appreciation