Virtual Onboarding: Building a Strong Connection with Your New Employee

The key to successful onboarding: connection!

When integrating a new employee, the goal is to ensure that the new hire quickly establishes trusting relationships with colleagues and immediate supervisors. In recent years, a significant shift in the workforce has been observed: employees increasingly seek meaning in their daily activities. Their professional tasks must reflect their motivations and career ambitions while allowing for personal fulfillment.

As a manager, adapting to this new reality involves engaging in discussions with various team members—not just the top 20% performers. Providing opportunities, a supportive work environment, and assistance that align with their needs is essential. Building a relationship of trust is crucial for obtaining this information.

In the context of remote work, establishing a connection between employee and manager can be challenging. In this article, we offer tips on effectively integrating and, most importantly, connecting with your remote teams.

Setting the Scene:

Tommy has only met his manager once during his job interview. On his first day, when he opens his computer around 7:30 AM, he checks his Outlook calendar—only to find it empty. It’s not until 10 AM that he receives his first Teams message from his boss, along with documents to fill out and policies to read. How did Tommy feel at that moment? Did these initial hours meet his expectations?

How Can We Improve? Pre-Integrate the Candidate.

It’s emphasized repeatedly because it’s so crucial!

Here’s why:

• The new employee won’t feel alone.
• They’ll know what to expect.
• The stress of the first day will be eased.
• Expectations will be clear.

Here are some tips to implement the week before their arrival:

• Call the employee to express your enthusiasm about their start.
• Arrange an initial meeting between the mentor and the new hire.
• Invite the employee to a virtual coffee with their immediate team.
• Send the schedule for the first week, along with internal documents.
• Provide access to computer tools and send necessary equipment.

Additional Tips that Make a Difference:

Coordinate a call between the new recruit and the IT team to ensure all equipment is functioning well, or even send a welcome kit!

We strongly recommend using a virtual tool for the onboarding plan—there are plenty that are user-friendly and free (Trello, Miro, Planner, or even Word!). The employee should have access to this onboarding plan before their first day, so they know exactly what to expect during their first day and week. No more sitting idle, waiting for the boss’s call!

And most importantly, conduct regular follow-ups!

In conclusion, we refer to the foundation of all good employment experiences: connection. To foster connection with the team, we emphasize the importance of frequent check-ins (at least twice a day during the first week!) with the manager and mentor for the new employee.

If you want more information on best onboarding practices, we recommend referring to our article “The 5 Essential Elements for Successful Onboarding.”

Or, schedule a time to discuss it further with us!