Lifestage

onboarding & offboarding

Creating clear onboarding materials is essential for providing reliable resources for new employees to revisit the basic rules, regulations, and expectations of their position. Yet, beyond role clarity and compliance, effective onboarding is about creating connection and culture. Cultivate an inclusive environment for staff by designing authentic team building exercises and making space for people to share their working styles and needs. Importantly, give your veteran staff a voice in this process to foster a sense of collective ownership over welcoming new employees to the community.

Make a positive impression on new employees by designing transparent and informational communication for all steps of the onboarding process. Carefully draft and schedule thoughtful emails in advance to save time. Heartfelt welcomes from leaders expressing excitement about the upcoming school year, welcome communication from HR, and general orientation information will keep new hires engaged until their first day. Later communications should contain easily referenced information about timelines, resources, logistics, and details about upcoming onboarding activities. Ensure that each piece of communication you draft is aligned with your organizational culture and overarching mission.

Effective onboarding takes into consideration each new employee’s individual needs and tailors offerings, pacing, and structure to support an equitable and inclusive experience. Team members involved in onboarding should undergo training to better understand how to adapt the process for the various identities, challenges, and experiences that new employees may have. Importantly, all stakeholders should be thoughtful about who can and should lead various roles in the onboarding process to ensure the most powerful and memorable impact of the material.