Page 211 - Successful Onboarding

“Limited Upside in Flying Blind”: Driving Strategic Insight • 195

Table 6.1 Interpersonal Network Elements—Sample Tactics
Onboarding
Phase Element Sample Tactics Application Advice
Prepare • Pre-Day One self- • Include the annual report in the new • Personalizing the information
education on hire package—a version with call outs by use of notes/call outs
company, culture, for what is most relevant to the new makes information more
values, and hire and his or her role relevant and reinforces
strategy “valued connectedness”
Orient • Introduction to • When firm leaders get up and • Leaders should go into the
company strategy introduce themselves, in the leadership strategic mandate and how the
by leaders message, they need to share more various components of the
information about the strategy—real organization work together to
time, and updates on what doing to achieve it—going beyond
execute against it mission and vision
• Break down the • Hiring managers conduct conversations • Incorporate content around
strategy by with new hires explaining how their how employees had an effect
organizational organization supports the broader on strategy
element and strategy and the individual’s role • Use illustrative examples from
functional area • Use the stakeholder map to illustrate various parts of the business
the key players in the strategy so that each new hire can find
• Compare and contrast company an element that relates to his
strategy to that of the new hire’s or her role
former employer, if appropriate
Integrate • Continue to • Conversations with mentor at three- • Strategy is unveiled in layers,
incorporate month touch-point as new hires gain more context
strategy content • Brown bag discussions with • Relate strategy to the new
into discussions experienced employees from a variety hire’s role
with new hires of businesses and functional areas • Cover all the key content
• Managers and/or mentors conduct areas: competition, customers,
debriefs following any company-wide supply chain, brand, etc.
strategy related announcements
Excel • Capture the new • Conduct periodic strategic insight • Soliciting new hire’s perspective
hire’s perspective interviews with the new hires supports both teaching the
on strategy • Incorporate as a discussion topic into strategy and reinforcing feelings
the regular new hire summits of “valuedness”
• Continue to • Continue discussions with mentor at • Strategy is unveiled in layers,
incorporate regularly scheduled intervals as new hires gain more context
strategy content • Brown bag discussions with • Relate strategy to new hire’s
into discussions experienced employees from a variety role
with new hires of businesses and functional areas • Cover all the key content
• Managers and/or mentors conduct
areas: competition, customers,
debriefs following any company-wide
supply chain, brand, etc.
strategy related announcements