Employee Orientation: The 90 Day Difference

Why do some new managers succeed while others fail? It all depends on the first three months ? the critical time when the new hire is learning the ropes. The new manager's boss plays a vital role in the orientation process. Here are four strategies to quickly get the new hire up to speed and working productively

Clarify goals and priorities.
What are the performance expectations and deliverables for you and your team? How is performance going to be measured/success evaluated? What are the key business issues that you need to focus on?

Define responsibility and accountability.
How much operational freedom/autonomy is there? What types of decisions require approval, consulting, or advising, and/or are subject to veto? Who else is significantly involved in any decision-making? On what basis?

Agree on communication.
What is the frequency and type of preferred communications? Is it regular meetings? Written, e-mail reports? Event-based communications?

Identify current 'hot issues'.
What do you need to watch out for? For example: Relationships among team members; client histories and experiences with the company; operating and performance problems.

The good news is that orientation 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.

Make sure you get your new managers off to a great start. Employee orientation, whether it takes one hour or one day, is a critical opportunity ? don't waste it. What's your orientation program like? Do you even have one?

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.

---

Creativity and Innovation Management ? Idea Progression

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Retaining An Expert -- What Every Business Owner Needs To Know

As an entrepreneur, hiring an expert can be one of... Read More

Hold Your Applause!

It's amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care... Read More

Reflections in the Glass Ceiling

The recent news about one of America's most powerful woman... Read More

5 Awesome Actions of Highly Creative Leaders!

How many times have you wondered why you are unable... Read More

Dont Take New Hires for Granted

Hiring good people is only half the battle. The other... Read More

How to get an Audiences Attention

A trainer dryly discussing how to motivate people in an... Read More

Appraisal Interviews: What To Say & How To Say It

STEPS TOWARDS A GOOD APPRAISAL INTERVIEW:Don't say: "You just don't... Read More

Examining the Relationship Between Employee Satisfaction and Customer Satisfaction

Researchers have undertaken numerous studies to look at the connection... Read More

Problem Solving

When problem solving, you may recognize that you were working... Read More

Performance Appraisal Scenarios: Improve Your Communication

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION DURING THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: If the employee has... Read More

Factoring Financing: How to Grow Your Business Without Debt or Loans

What is factoring?Accounts receivable financing, also known as factoring, is... Read More

Developing Your Mission

"The best Leader is one who knows how to pick... Read More

Successful Managing Through Delegation

Managers should avoid the tendency to constantly delegate to the... Read More

Qualities of a Great Manager

In the call center environment we are often only as... Read More

Cold Water Comments - What They Are and How to Manage Them!

Cold Water Comments - What They Are and How to... Read More

Innovation Management ? Eliciting Dominant Ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Delegate or Die!

You Can't Do It All - Learning To DelegateThere is... Read More

Shrinkage Control

What has been your store's shrinkage experience for the last... Read More

How Your Business Can Pick A Software Developer

Eventually, your business is going to need to have some... Read More

7 Strategies for Sustained Innovation

The need for constant reinvention is a given in today's... Read More

How To Use Outsourcing To Beat Your Competition

Outsourcing is when you hire outside professionals or services to... Read More

Book Summary: Mind Your Own Business

A maverick is an independent person who will not go... Read More

Bye-Bye Boring Meetings! Make Yours Remarkable!

It's the middle of the night. You've woken up with... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Adapting Human Resource Functions

This article relates to the human resource functions competency, commonly... Read More