Managers play a crucial role in guiding employees through their career development while also serving as key communicators between various departments and their teams. One of their most essential responsibilities is facilitating clear and effective communication, particularly when onboarding new employees.
The Importance of Streamlined Communication
Ensuring that new team members receive clear and structured communication helps integrate them into the company’s culture, fostering a sense of belonging and alignment with organizational goals.
Establishing a Strong Foundation
New hires are often inundated with a flood of emails, messages, and instructions upon joining a company. Managers can ease this transition by acting as cultural guides, helping them navigate the organization’s communication channels with a mix of formal and informal messaging.
Additionally, new employees may lack the historical context behind team interactions. Providing this background early can significantly ease their adjustment period.
Clarifying Team Terminology
Every organization develops its own set of jargon and internal terminology. While clear communication should always be a priority, a new hire’s arrival presents an excellent opportunity for managers to review and clarify commonly used terms. Be careful using acronyms with new employees without explaining what they stand for.
Lisa Claybon, a senior communications executive, emphasizes the importance of equipping new employees with a list of company acronyms and phrases.
A well-organized 30-60-90-day onboarding plan helps avoid information overload.
Leveraging the Team for Support
While managers are primarily responsible for guiding new employees, existing team members can also play a valuable role in onboarding.
Managers should inform the team about a new hire as early as possible and involve them in the onboarding process. This approach exposes new employees to different communication styles and work methods within the team.
Encouraging Two-Way Communication
Managers should establish an open feedback loop with new hires to refine the communication and onboarding process. Schedule regular check-ins with new hires to ensure they are not feeling overwhelmed and identify and gaps in onboarding.
By taking a thoughtful, structured approach to onboarding and communication, managers can set new employees up for long-term success while fostering a strong and cohesive workplace culture.
By Heather Nezich, courtesy of SBAM-approved partner, ASE.
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