Hiring a new employee is exciting. Besides adding their skills and talents mentioned on resumes to the team, new employees also bring various personal strengths and traits that can significantly benefit the organization. However, new hires may often feel shy and reserved about expressing themselves or making the best of their capabilities. They may deliberately downplay their strengths for fear of stepping in someone else’s shoes and being disliked and out-casted.
But it is essential to motivate new employees if you want them to stay and be productive in the long run. Here are some tips that may prove helpful to motivate new employees:
Assign Them a Buddy/Mentor
New employees may have numerous questions that they need to answer. However, they may not ask most of the questions for fear of overwhelming their immediate boss, team members, or even HR persons. But not getting answers to their questions can make new hires demotivated and unwelcomed.
The effective solution to this situation is to assign the new employee a buddy or mentor, depending on their position. The job of the buddy or mentor includes familiarizing the new hire with the day-to-day operations of the workplace and answering all their questions. This assigned person can also show them around and guide them on different policies and SOPs of the workplace. Learning about the workplace can motivate new employees by making them feel comfortable.
Communicate Expectations
While new hires can benefit greatly from being able to navigate the workplace and its operations, they must also be familiar with their place in the bigger picture. Communicating expectations is a practical way to motivate new employees as it familiarizes them with how they fit in the organization.
When new employees know their roles and responsibilities thoroughly, they make the most of their abilities and skills to fulfill those. New hires are often eager to make an impression despite their reserved composure. They often want to become permanent employees to enjoy greater employee benefits and receive a raise. Hence, allowing them to understand what is expected of them can assist them in making themselves an essential part of the team.
Check-in Frequently
While checking in with all employees regularly is highly beneficial, frequent check-ins can motivate new employees. Check-ins communicate the idea that the organization doesn’t just hold expectations for its employees but is also willing to assist them in reaching those expectations. They essentially allow the employees to share the problems they are facing with their work and find their solutions with others.
New hires, especially in higher positions, can often feel overwhelmed by tackling greater responsibility while being a stranger to most of their team. However, check-ins from upper management, other departments, and personnel they have to work with can make them feel at ease.
Last but not least, welcoming and introducing to others also helps motivate new employees. Meeting and getting to know others helps new hires feel like a part of the team. It also allows to break the ice between new and existing employees and promotes communication.
