How Much of your Onboarding is Designed Only Around the What

More often than not, successful onboarding is designed around the what. The systems, the processes, the expectations, the handbook. And to be clear, all of that matters.

What it rarely makes room for is the how. And honestly it is not the fault of the company or the leader. The hiring process took so long that by the time someone is in the seat, the pressure to get them ramped up fast is real.

The what takes priority.

And in the rush, the conversation that helps you understand who this person actually is gets skipped. How they work, what they need to bring their best, what gets in their way. That is the information that enables you to better support your new employee so they can bring their best.

I have been working on a framework that captures how I approached this. It is almost ready and I will be sharing it here soon.

In the meantime, one question worth thinking about. Does your onboarding set your new hire up for functional success, or does it also set them up to bring their best?