This article, the second in a series of three, provides guidelines for conducting an effective corporate-level orientation. Part 1 discussed the importance of properly orienting new hires to your organization, and Part 3 will discuss strategies for assimilating new employees to their specific department and job.
There is an inclination for corporate orientations, generally delivered by an organization's Human Resources department, to focus on completing required paperwork and distributing benefits information. While certainly important, meetings of this nature tend to be boring and demotivating. Employers, instead, should seize this opportunity to celebrate the arrival of their new team member(s) and communicate that employees are their most valuable asset. You may even wish to handle the mundane form-filling activities separately in order to foster this "pep rally" environment.
Invite a senior person in the organization to welcome the new employees and reinforce the message that their contributions will be appreciated. Also consider having other staff members - either veteran employees or those who themselves were "new kids on the block" in the recent past - share their own experiences. Testimonials, naturally, have greater credibility than an HR representative giving what could easily be interpreted as the "company line."
Communicate the organization's understanding that starting a new job can be a scary thing. Make it clear to the participants that they will be fully supported in their efforts to become comfortable with - and successful in - this new environment. Encourage them to get know each other so that they can call on someone "in the same boat" if ever they feel the need. Having food available, whether breakfast bagels, lunch sandwiches, or mid-afternoon snacks, also tends to lessen the formality of the meeting and break the ice a bit.
Because individual learning styles and attention spans vary, you should design an orientation program that is as multi-sensory and interactive as possible. Avoid talking at the new hires; instead, supplement "lecture" with slide shows, product demonstrations, group activities, and fun quizzes and contests.
Some specific topics that should be covered in a corporate orientation program are:
- Company history, products and services, and financial and sales data
- Clients and competitors, including how the organization sets itself apart in the marketplace
- Corporate mission and goals
- Organizational structure
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