Let's talk about one of the most overlooked transitions in the workplace: onboarding new executives. You'd think after all the hassle and cash spent finding the perfect person, you'd roll out the red carpet, right? Nope, sometimes we just shove them into the deep end and hope for the best. Spoiler alert: that usually ends in disaster.
𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲.
You REALLY do get only one chance to make a first impression. Mess it up, and you'll be spending the next year trying to clean it up. So, who’s supposed to make sure things go smoothly? Newsflash: beyond the basics like payroll and benefits, it’s NOT just a job for HR.
In my opinion, successful onboarding is a tag team effort between the hiring manager and the new hire. Here’s how you, as the new executive, can avoid creating a mess for yourself!
👂 𝗦𝗵𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻. No, really. Just listen. Ask questions and absorb the info. Show off your brilliance later when people actually know and trust you.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀. Hint: they’re not the ones with fancy titles. Seek out the people who actually make 💩 happen and make them your BFFs.
🚪𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗴𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿. Seriously, check it right there.
🤐 𝗭𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗯. No one cares about "how we did it at X company." If it was so great there , why’d you leave?
📄𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟯𝟬, 𝟲𝟬, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟵𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀. Ask for feedback from your boss and your team. Don’t wing it.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿:
💻𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲. Make sure they have a laptop, system access, and a phone. Nothing says "we don't care" like not having equipment on day one.
📄𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹. Introduce the new hire to everyone who matters either the day before or on their start date.
📆𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. Don’t make them awkwardly schedule their own intros.
💼𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝟯𝟬/𝟲𝟬/𝟵𝟬-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻. With a specific deliverable a the end of 90 days. I like an overview of what the leader learned and what their plan is for the next 90 days.
✅𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻. Daily for the first two weeks, then every few days. Always ask how you can help.
👂𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘇𝘇. Pay attention to what others are saying about the new hire.
Transitions of any kind are HARD and they take planning and time. Time is the one thing most leaders are short on. If you don't have the bandwidth to onboard your a new leader, think about bringing on an Executive Coach to work with you to set up the plan and then work with the new hire during their first 90 days to make sure it's a success.
Whatever you do....don't wing it!
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