The opening line of this recent email I received from Southwestern College (NM) CTO, Donna Harrington, could not be more timely and spot-on. From the initial position posting, through the months-long interview process, and since day one of the offer and beginning of the transition plan, I have felt genuinely invited, included, and informed. All the surprises (such as choosing my office's paint color scheme!) have been good ones. The parts are moving in sync, which is especially important when you are in first gear.
I often say that the way in which we come into an organization can have a profound effect on what we will give to it, how we will commit ourselves to our people and our mission, and whether we will choose and perhaps be chosen to stay.
At one career stop, I arrived at my assigned workspace on day one to find a red file folder in the center of my desk. Naively expecting that it might include a welcome letter from my predecessor, I opened it immediately and found a two-word note that read, "Good luck." It was a foreboding sign of things to come.
At another, I was encouraged by my supervisor to postpone for a day some of my week one paperwork and instead join her at the annual employee picnic and softball game. In so doing, I met dozens of new colleagues, experienced finger foods and home brews that I didn't know existed beyond my then-narrow Midwestern palate, and stepped in my first fire ant nest. Based solely on that first day I would have signed on to work there for life.
EVERY onboarding "is a process with many moving parts" that can easily be gummed up or broken down if we are not paying attention or collaborating toward a shared outcome for our new team member and us.
What are your best experiences with and tips for successful #onboarding? Please share them in the comments. My DMs are always open for the open-minded, too.
#workplaceculture #employeeengagement #highered #highereducation #newjob #inclusion #learning
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