Employee Orientation: Get New Hires Off To a Great Start

The good news is that a new hire orientation program offers an opportunity to build a lasting impression of the new company. The bad news is that that is going to happen whether you plan it or not. So why not get new hires off to a great start? Here are seven ways.

Celebrate the new hire's arrival.
How come when an employee leaves, there's a party, but when she arrives, there is nothing to mark the occasion? Welcome new employees on day one and make them feel part of the team.

Give the person a buddy.
Don't make them feel like strangers. Ask someone, who will be working with the new hire, to show him around and teach him the ropes.

Get them up to speed fast.
Many new hires encounter delays and frustrations in getting the tools and training they need to be productive. Make sure they have their passwords, telephone numbers, emails, computer, etc. from day one.

Let the person feel special.
Realize there is no substitute from a welcoming from the very top. If the CEO can't spend a few minutes in person with new employees, they should at least send a welcome email or voice mail.

Develop a video.
Have it present what the organization does, the customers or clients, and the employees who make it happen. This personalizes the company and helps new hires become more quickly committed.

Go beyond the first day.
Don't attempt to cram the employee orientation into only a few short hours. It should be spread out over their first 60-90 days. It is important for the employee to be able to absorb the information and not feel overwhelmed.

Make orientation fun
You can use a scavenger hunt; play a Jeopardy game, an off-site outing, etc. One CEO pretends he is a drill sergeant and has all new employees recite the company's values statement. Put on your thinking cap and come up with creative ways to get your new hires on board.

Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ? to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management.

Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks ? resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs ? fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.themoneytimes.com/news/20081202/u_s_manufacturing_declined_in_november-id-1043151.htmlcid=1276422140ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNFmtW6KojiiF1baUWUzIvBSfC-L3wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=i4a6OOyDU1IJimgurl=www.themoneytimes.com/filess/Clipboard17_94.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2The Money Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/global-manufacturing-gauges-collapse-november/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B89D71098-0129-432D-875A-1EECDDE62475%257D%26dist%3Dmsr_1cid=1276422140ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNGff5rZHhNAVCQFS9EiJNu6rc22HQECONOMIC REPORT Global manufacturing gauges collapse in November/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b of price pressures hit an all-time low, according to a survey of corporate purchasing managers released Monday by the Institute for Supply bManagement/b. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/01/news/economy/ISM_November/%3Fpostversion%3D2008120110cid=1276422140ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNEdbo5xuQfG1PKU_9AzGu8ArBvzOQManufacturing index at 26-year low/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCNNMoney.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/12/02/manufacture.htmlcid=1276422140ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNFRD_Yh_6UuDJXg8TnAZE-UeTQJxAManufacturing index drops to 26-year low/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAtlanta Journal Constitution/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/01/news/economy/ISM_November/%3Fpostversion%3D2008120111cid=1276422140ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNGbXVqEOsgJMd0GDxCatzQ8M2eYCAManufacturing index at 26-year low/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCNN/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/12/01/manufacturing-retail-consumer-markets-econ-cx_cg_1201markets18.htmlcid=1276422140ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNE2oItuiPEfnRyA0BGiAaCUl12IGQnobrForbes/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/manufacturing-falling-fastest-pace-27/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B01759E58-3EB4-4E5E-A1A1-2BC26F9A8A8D%257Dcid=1276422140ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNFZ5u-O-pH4FY6PDrCwAAoYgn0g9QnobrMarketWatch/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276422140hl=ennobrall 652 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Transite-Technology-Signs-Deal-MCR/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B68033FCC-D3DB-430C-AA06-C338E00DFBED%257Dcid=1276668403ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNGBS0-tpG1KXP1TM38aWPEhYQuvoQTransite Technology Signs Deal with MCR Safety to Provide b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;And, it also is in line with our intent to cement our position as the leading transportation bmanagement/b application to the SAP system. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Single-Source-Introduces-New-Advanced/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B5F9B6094-79DA-4B91-9089-E3100016FC14%257Dcid=1276524746ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNGdMeV8RAie52LcNydW4Q0Sy9LbuQSingle Source Introduces New Advanced Quote bManagement/b (AQM)(TM b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr16 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1All functions seamlessly integrate to the inherent back-office financials, inventory, purchasing and bmanagement/b reporting functionality of SM-Plus-meeting b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20081202-104910.htmlcid=1276691615ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNHeiOdxCNuosE07V9OOFGlfsB8gwwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=qw5cDWYEVmUJimgurl=motoring.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/motoring/12Dec08/20081202.111843_lexus.jpg width=80 height=40 alt= border=1brfont size=-2AsiaOne/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Toyota-management-get-winter-bonus/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B09B534DB-B609-4000-8E4D-DD4BFCC66371%257Dcid=1276691615ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNHsuVH3IUg4Kl5dHOMVGXMm9pD3_wToyota bmanagement/b to get winter bonus cuts/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The paper said that bmanagement/b at Japan#39;s largest auto maker made the decision in light of the company#39;s worsening earnings performance. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/02/business/02toyota.phpcid=1276691615ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNEVi-TGakrg16vuGexKh0yUbhCHCgToyota to cut bmanagement/b bonuses by 10%/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternational Herald Tribune/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601101%26sid%3DaRAewBZfiowM%26refer%3Djapancid=1276691615ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNEolXNmhTSwIBWDJBeY_vzCO6CUzQToyota Cuts Bonus Payments for Managers as Sales Fall (Update2)/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBloomberg/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUST27419720081202cid=1276691615ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNF5C6kuPZ3mrng0bWnMJI49t7QTVwUPDATE 1-Toyota to cut bonuses amid reports of output cuts/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3540898/Japans-car-industry-in-freefall.htmlcid=1276691615ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNFi37lDcO8-HZz1tIwSNA5Kr3zoFQnobrTelegraph.co.uk/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUST23786220081201cid=1276691615ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNGp39maKgRVBaIgdq9KnpB94Re9zgnobrReuters/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276691615hl=ennobrall 29 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/TendenciR-Online-Management-Software-Helps/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BC1C726C7-389D-4334-A156-25E4092A0971%257Dcid=1276572701ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNH5QIFo9H1jgPkjp_kG2WQWxT-wJgTendenci(R) Online bManagement/b Software Helps Housing Authority of b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Tendenci#39;s rich content bmanagement/b system makes it simple to add and edit content on the HACLA Web site, which means the information stays current and the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/European-Nephrologists-Share-Insights-Management/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B56531207-B91B-4420-9FC5-69818EF4D988%257Dcid=1276715604ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNFaifofbcpWZJPZtTfceT42IPnOVwEuropean Nephrologists Share Insights on the bManagement/b of Renal b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The focus is on the bmanagement/b of renal anemia and hyperphosphatemia. In the ESA market, Amgen#39;s Aranesp is the market share leader in both dialysis and CKD b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/MassMutual-Appoints-Robert-J-Casale/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B7A69BC63-AD15-4DB5-BB3E-8DCED757EA78%257Dcid=1276628192ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNFfBGOTpzC4k62YB3OnFAHw7BN_4QMassMutual Appoints Robert J. Casale to Chief Information Officer/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1This includes MassMutual#39;s Enterprise Technology Organization, which is accountable for enterprise-wide data, information security bmanagement/b and overall b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/MassMutual-Retirement-Services-Adds-Two/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BC58A9CEC-F4E1-4323-929E-ED1096026FAE%257Dcid=1276628192ei=ztI0SaehIqCQ6API3eXsCQusg=AFQjCNHMSbVDl7YkeRMwrIRqWld2Sj1V3QMassMutual Retirement Services Adds Two to Nonprofit Sales Team/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276628192hl=ennobrall 19 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
management - Google News

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