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6 tips to Onboarding Remote Employees More Effectively
17 May 2021
Many businesses have switched to remote work lately becoming forced to implement completely new working practices. Remote employers still need to get aboard and someone (most likely you) has to engage and motivate them to deliver results. However, while new people integrate naturally in a usual in-office environment, recently recruited remote employees might find it hard to integrate into your team and get engaged in tackling your projects.
Luckily, there are many tools and techniques on how to make virtual integration smooth and quick. Since onboarding remote workers is a new experience for both sides, in many companies there's no blueprint for such processes yet. A recent survey Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) revealed that more than 30% of managers find the new terms of remote coaching and onboarding very challenging tasks.
Implementing new policies and flexible approaches that can help resolve the hardships of remote onboarding is imperative since this is likely the new reality of the post-Covid world.
The smooth virtual training and coaching processes make new responsibilities clear enough for the new person to stay on the job. A better onboarding process also helps build a strong team and increase performance. Let’s take a look at the best practices of onboarding remote workers!
The very first thing you need to do is get familiar with Zoom, Microsoft Teams or similar soft. This way you'll get a secure and reliable connection for training or coaching. You might even find video meetings and chat overall beneficial to your company's internal communications. The first step here is to make sure that a new worker knows how to use such software.
Virtual onboarding isn’t just a warm welcome – it's a real work introduction. Remember that some people find asking questions uncomfortable. Create an onboarding plan before you start virtual meetings. Give the new person an opportunity to get prepared and know what to expect.
Onboarding is a two-way street! You should have your own detailed checklist with tasks and objectives. Starting from paperwork and setting up Zoom accounts to providing relevant information on stakeholders – all this should be planned in advance. The first week is essential and you need to keep up as much as your new worker to ensure that onboarding is running smooth.
Remote work adds up to people's feeling of lockdown and isolation and a warm introduction of a new member to the team helps to break through negative feelings. Arranging a meeting for your team and the new employee helps level up their enthusiasm, get a sense and understanding of a shared goal.
One of the best ways to keep the team and company structure clear and easy to remember is to create a list with photographs, names, contact details and positions. Update the list regularly and share it within your company and not just the new employee. It’s impossible to expect that a newcomer will remember all names and details in one video call, so keep the list close.
Every company has inner traditions that make the work environment comfortable and welcoming for every member. For instance, you can share gift cards for local cafes or stores. Such little gifts can be presented in an online meeting monthly. Gift these to everyone or just a chosen team member to compliment their hard work. Happy hours can be easily integrated into virtual life!
Feedback is what you need when the onboarding process is completed. Use a short survey for new members to complete. It’s important to highlight the likes and dislikes toward your approach and use it for further improvements.
Hold regular virtual meetings with new team members to keep track of existing issues and detect any upcoming problems early to resolve these fast. Your employees will feel appreciated and well connected during and after the onboarding process. You can even appoint a mentor to each newcomer to ensure that there's no sense of isolation inside the team.
Virtual onboarding is a new process very different from the traditional approach. It’s really important that new team members feel that they belong in your company and proper onboarding can help you achieve that. Schedule online meetings and use other tips we've collected for you to establish effective communication with your virtual teams. Recorded or live seminars and training courses can also be of great help when familiarizing new employees with your work processes.
How can you fix this?
Luckily, there are many tools and techniques on how to make virtual integration smooth and quick. Since onboarding remote workers is a new experience for both sides, in many companies there's no blueprint for such processes yet. A recent survey Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) revealed that more than 30% of managers find the new terms of remote coaching and onboarding very challenging tasks.
Implementing new policies and flexible approaches that can help resolve the hardships of remote onboarding is imperative since this is likely the new reality of the post-Covid world.
The smooth virtual training and coaching processes make new responsibilities clear enough for the new person to stay on the job. A better onboarding process also helps build a strong team and increase performance. Let’s take a look at the best practices of onboarding remote workers!
Invest in effective virtual communication
The very first thing you need to do is get familiar with Zoom, Microsoft Teams or similar soft. This way you'll get a secure and reliable connection for training or coaching. You might even find video meetings and chat overall beneficial to your company's internal communications. The first step here is to make sure that a new worker knows how to use such software.
Set onboarding goals
Virtual onboarding isn’t just a warm welcome – it's a real work introduction. Remember that some people find asking questions uncomfortable. Create an onboarding plan before you start virtual meetings. Give the new person an opportunity to get prepared and know what to expect.
Onboarding is a two-way street! You should have your own detailed checklist with tasks and objectives. Starting from paperwork and setting up Zoom accounts to providing relevant information on stakeholders – all this should be planned in advance. The first week is essential and you need to keep up as much as your new worker to ensure that onboarding is running smooth.
Host virtual introductions
Remote work adds up to people's feeling of lockdown and isolation and a warm introduction of a new member to the team helps to break through negative feelings. Arranging a meeting for your team and the new employee helps level up their enthusiasm, get a sense and understanding of a shared goal.
One of the best ways to keep the team and company structure clear and easy to remember is to create a list with photographs, names, contact details and positions. Update the list regularly and share it within your company and not just the new employee. It’s impossible to expect that a newcomer will remember all names and details in one video call, so keep the list close.
Integrate company traditions into the onboarding process
Every company has inner traditions that make the work environment comfortable and welcoming for every member. For instance, you can share gift cards for local cafes or stores. Such little gifts can be presented in an online meeting monthly. Gift these to everyone or just a chosen team member to compliment their hard work. Happy hours can be easily integrated into virtual life!
Collect feedback
Feedback is what you need when the onboarding process is completed. Use a short survey for new members to complete. It’s important to highlight the likes and dislikes toward your approach and use it for further improvements.
Schedule regular check-ins
Hold regular virtual meetings with new team members to keep track of existing issues and detect any upcoming problems early to resolve these fast. Your employees will feel appreciated and well connected during and after the onboarding process. You can even appoint a mentor to each newcomer to ensure that there's no sense of isolation inside the team.
Bottomline
Virtual onboarding is a new process very different from the traditional approach. It’s really important that new team members feel that they belong in your company and proper onboarding can help you achieve that. Schedule online meetings and use other tips we've collected for you to establish effective communication with your virtual teams. Recorded or live seminars and training courses can also be of great help when familiarizing new employees with your work processes.
