Payroll
The Importance of New Hire Training
It doesn’t take much work on your part to get a warm body into an empty seat. It does take your attention to keep them there. Give your new hire their best possible shot at staying. Give them the training they need, the way they need it, with ...
Apr. 17, 2019
So you now have your new hire in the door. Exciting, right?! Finally, someone to help with the workload that seems to increase at a welcome yet frightening pace. Finally, no more overloaded weeks, and you can finally do that spa day you have been craving.
Now what? Sure, the new person is great. That’s why you chose them. But they’re **not** you. They don’t inherently know your processes. How do you get the knowledge out of your brain and into theirs?
First, relax.
They are never going to be you. But you can help them to become their best possible self. Here are some basic things you can try, other than having them shadow you for a few days, that will put them on the path to your vision of success: How do they learn?
● Visual? Then use Zoom or some other video resource to record the training that you do with them so that they can watch it again, picking up different things as they go through the process.
● Audio? Make a list of important bullet points then record the more detailed explanations in your own voice.
● Tactile? Maybe they need to control the mouse while you give instruction. Some people learn better by doing.
Once you’ve figured out the best way to train the new hire and you’ve completed training, how do you know if that training sunk in?
Inspect what you expect -It’s a well-used adage that we’ve all heard. Let’s break it down:
● Clearly defined goals – What do you want them to learn in the first week? The first month? If you don’t set goals and milestones, how do they know what your expectations are?
● The right tools – Do you provide everything they need to get the job done? You wouldn’t send a firefighter to a blazing house without a hose. What tools have you given your new hire to help him succeed?
● Understanding – Do they know what you mean? How can you tell? Make sure you’ve communicated in the ways they best understand.
● Follow up – Show me the money! Or the spreadsheet. Or the bank rec. Doesn’t matter what it is, just ask them to show you the work. Be quick to point out what’s right, but also take note of any areas that may need more training. The best tip I can offer is to “catch them” doing something right. Compliments and encouragement go a long way when training a still nervous new hire.
Regular and Frequent Reviews – Everyone likes to hear what they’re doing right. It’s your job to also make them welcome information about what they’re doing wrong. Make sure you document any areas that require improvement. Give them attainable goals for the performance you expect. “Last month it took you five days to complete all of the bank reconciliations for your assigned clients. Let’s shoot for four days this month.” Let them know you don’t expect them to be brilliant and perfect right away, but you do expect to see continued improvement.
It doesn’t take much work on your part to get a warm body into an empty seat. It does take your attention to keep them there. Give your new hire their best possible shot at staying. Give them the training they need, the way they need it, with attainable goals. Isn’t that the way you’d like to be treated? And more importantly, don’t you really want them to succeed? These steps will help to accomplish that.