New Team Member? No Problem

New Team Member? No Problem!

First, you hire an awesome new team member and get really excited about their potential contributions to the group. Life is going to be great when they join!

But, when the new team member finally arrives, you start feeling burdened by the time it takes to show them the ropes.

LIABILITY OR ASSET?

© 2015 Rhythm Systems, Inc.

“I thought life was going to get better, but it seems more stressful.”


HOW CAN I AVOID THIS?

Ultimately, it’s your choice to introduce your new employee as a strong addition to your group rather than as a weight that’s holding it down.

There is both an art and a science to team building.

Augmenting an existing team by haphazardly introducing a new member usually inspires feelings of anxiety from the new member, aggravation from the managerial staff, and irritation from the preexisting team members.

TEAM BUILDING



THERE’S A BETTER WAY

Successful team building after a new hire comes from eliminating the notion of adding a “new member” and changing the focus to creating a

“new team.”

Set the tone with a “great first day.”

Tips for building a coherent team with new talent:

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Show them your playbook.

Paint them a picture of success.

Provide a bold new future.


“Do you spend more money on going away parties when someone leaves the company than you do on

welcome parties when someone joins?”- Jack Daly

• Be intentional in your onboarding process.• Create a plan for your new employee’s first few days, not just their first hour. A week or two before your new hire’s first day, create an hour-by-hour action plan for their first experiences in their new “home.”

• Skip the HR paperwork blizzard and introduce them to their new coworkers in a way that makes everyone excited.

• Make the addition of your new team member a point of festivity and comradery for everyone.

Great First Day


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A “Great First Day” really is a celebration for the entire company, and as a result, people feel welcomed, appreciated and planned for.

At Rhythm Systems, this practice has become a way that we live one of our own core values: Be Appreciative.

CELEBRATE


If you added Michael Jordan to your team and never taught him the plays or told him what

position he had to play, he would have failed.

• If you don’t introduce your new team members to your existing processes, they don’t have much of a chance at success.

• Prepare to make them successful, don’t just throw them into their new position and hope they “figure it out.”

• Consider the old adage made famous by Donald Rumsfeld; “We don’t know what we don’t know.”

• Your new employee doesn’t know what you haven’t shown them. Outline not only their job duties, but show them what everyone else is responsible for as well.

Show Them Your Playbook


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At Rhythm Systems, we use job scorecards that help outline and set expectations around KPIs and the expected results from the employees.

With a scorecard, your new employee will know what everyone on their team does and who to pass the ball to next.

CLARIFY


Show your new employee what their success looks like. And not just for them, but for everyone

and the company.

• If you are the new employee’s immediate supervisor, take some time to describe what their success looks like in their new position.

• Does it mean they turn things in on time? Does it mean they use the last hour of their day to develop new projects?

• Whatever the definition of “victory” is for them, make sure they understand what is expected. Make sure you discuss their individual contributions to the team and who can help them reach their goals.

Paint Them a Picture of Success


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DON’T STOPTHERE

Describe and discuss what equals their department’s success and the company’s success as well. And have that information come from the experts.

At Rhythm Systems, for example, all new employees meet with me or my co-founder to review the company’s strategic plan and understand the company’s core values and future.

COLLABORATE


Every new hire is unique and requires nurturing to ensure their growth into a well-rounded, fully developed, and effective team member.

• Make it your choice to help the new hire succeed after they are brought on board.

• At Rhythm Systems, we want to help companies ensure all their employees—new and seasoned—are enthusiastic and ready to contribute to the team.

• Contact me at [email protected] to learn how we can help you with practical steps to drive individual performance and build teams.

Provide a Bold New Future


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mailto:[email protected]

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New Team Member? No Problem