As a business owner, one of the issues you will encounter is hiring and training new employees. The hope is that this doesn’t happen too often and that you can establish high employee retention numbers within the company. But even still, there will be employees that come and go which necessitates the need for training. For small businesses who need to train new employees, there isn’t typically a dedicated training staff, which means much of it may lie on your shoulders.
Here are eight essential tips for small businesses that are training new employees.
Create a Welcome and Training Manual or Guide
A good tip is to put together a basic welcome and training manual that can be given to new employees. This will act as the blueprint during the training process, plus it allows them to refer back to sections and information as needed. There’s no need to make it a massive guide; even if it just covers the basics, it will prove helpful.
Within the training manual should also be a section about the company, what it does, who its customers are, what the market is like and an idea of the workplace environment/culture.
Give Employees a Tour of the Facility
The first day on the job should always include a tour of the facility. Even if most of the departments or areas of the business won’t have a direct impact on their job and daily duties, it’s still important to give them a lay of the land. This is also a great opportunity to introduce the new employee to other employees and department heads. It will help to create a more welcoming environment.
Their Workspace Should Already be Set Up
The new hire’s workspace must be already set up and ready to go before they arrive. This will ensure time isn’t wasted and it also makes the business appear professional. Nothing is worse for a new employee who is just starting but doesn’t have a workspace, or the computer and equipment needed, and is left to fend for themselves until a solution is found.
Train Employees on the Phone System
Another important piece of equipment for them to learn is the phone system, especially if the new hire has a dedicated number and will be chatting with customers and clients regularly. The basics will be important, and so will more advanced features such as how to forward calls. This will allow the employee to forward their calls to another device, such as their mobile phone, when not at their desk or in the office.
You can use this step-by-step guide from OpenPhone to walk trainees through the process. It covers the steps for forwarding calls on smartphones and traditional phones, taking all the questions out of the process.
Assign a Mentor to New Hires
Some companies also choose to assign a mentor to new hires. The mentor can act as the first point of contact for any questions the new employee may have. It can also help them to settle in and feel comfortable a little faster. When a person feels supported, they’re able to hit the ground running.
Make Sure Tasks and Goals Given are Realistic
There’s no doubt you’re excited for the new hire to get started, but it’s important to set tasks and goals that are realistic and achievable. There will always be a learning curve, even if the new hire seems well-equipped and experienced. This means a little patience will be required on your part as they get to know their job. That doesn’t mean you can’t expect anything of them; it just means it’s best to ease them into the routine, taking a little bit at a time so they absorb everything.
Encourage Communication
A business that encourages communication between all departments and staff can thrive. This is a message that needs to be made clear to new hires from the get-go. They shouldn’t feel scared or intimated to ask co-workers or supervisors a question, and they should also be encouraged to share ideas and concerns.
Give Employees Feedback
Finally, it’s a good idea to provide new hires with feedback regularly – at least in the beginning. This can include praise for a job well done, as well as tips on how and where they can improve. Feedback is extremely helpful for both parties.
Making Sure New Hires Get Off to a Positive Start
Employee retention is something that many companies strive for and see value in. A revolving door of employees can hurt the business and company morale. So, when the time comes that you do hire new employees, it’s important to get them off to a positive start, providing them with the training and support they need to succeed.