When working at Procter & Gamble, there was a revolutionary concept coined in 2005 that had a tremendous impact on me, both as an individual and as a manager of others.
Okay Mister Paton, but which is this concept? The concept is “The first moment of truth”.
For the ones who are not aware,
you can understand this concept as the 3-5 seconds window when a consumer notices a product and needs to decide to either choose one product (a Procter & Gamble product) or choose the equivalent product from the competition.
The same happens with new hirers when joining a new organization.
As manager of a new hirer, it is crucial you master the art of “The first moment of truth”.
If you want to learn what to tell as manager to your new hirers during the first days at work, keep reading!
In the same way for a consumer the first moment of truth is key when deciding what to buy,
the same applies to employees in their first week at work.
What I like to call, employee moments of truth.
As manager,
it is in your interest (and your responsibility) to master the art of managing the employee moments of truth.
Mastering this art,
it will allow you to create the ideal environment where your employee can unleash their full potential while taking over the new job and joining a new organization.
Employee first-day checklist
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If you are having a new employee starting next month, and you are not sure what to organize for the first day, I bring you here the perfect first-day checklist.
Sample employee first-day checklist
This is the list I have been using for more than 7 years after welcoming more than 40 people to my team.
Note: This perfect first-day checklist is assuming a 9-5 job when an employee will be working from an office on the first day.
AGENDA
08:45
Pick up from reception – Manager
This is the first interaction with your new employee,
I find key that you (as the manager) will be the first figure the person will see in the new company
09:00 – 10:00
Contract, paperwork – HR
Some signatures here and there.
PRO tip: If possible, review the documentation prior to handing it over to your new employee.
Paying special attention to the salary, job title and duration of the contract.
10:00 – 12:00
Company overview – HR
Vision and mission of the company, history of the company, portfolio of products/services/brands and culture.
If possible, provide welcome gifts including a reference to the vision of the company and the organization.
12:00 – 13:00
Lunch break
Organize a team lunch with all the other new hires so you can facilitate some networking between all the new employees.
13:00 – 14:00
Benefits review – HR
Working hours, working from home, working from abroad, medical insurance, bonus …
TIP: Position the message by playing on the strengths. If you allow working from abroad and the competition no – highlight it actively.
14:00 – 15:00
One-to-one – Manager/Employee
This is the first “real” interaction with your new employee. Take advantage of it.
Introduce yourself and share your expectations toward
You can read down below for more details about how to effectively manage this one with your new employee.
15:00 – 16:00
Meeting with a mentor - define next steps
Concluding the day organise a meeting between the new employee and the assigned mentor and define the next steps of the onboarding.
What to focus as a manager on your first one-on-one with a new employee
On your first one-on-one as a manager with a new employee,
you should focus on the next 5 elements:
- Get to know your new employee
- Share your expectations
- Assign a mentor
- Define and present a detailed onboarding plan for the next two weeks
- Introduce yourself (slide)
If you feel not creative and you need some inspiration on how to introduce yourself,
no worries I bring you here a slide example of what to include when introducing yourself.
PRO Tip:
On the first one on one interaction with a new employee,
it is key to share the culture of the company and the team,
by explaining to them in detail what the new team member can expect from me and from the team.
What do employees want to know on their first day at work?
Do you remember your first day at work?
Most likely you ended up on the first day without clearly knowing what to expect from the company or from the assignment.
And in some cases,
even doubt if you made the right decision with such a move.
It is crucial that as a manager of others, you share the vision and expectations with your new employee during the first-day interaction.
I bring you below some ideas of what you can share with your employee in terms of expectations from you and the team:
- If you disagree with something, be vocal about it! You convince them, or they convince you.
- Don’t pretend you know things when you don’t. This is not a competition we are all in the same boat.
- Making mistakes is okay if we learn the lesson from it.
- You will receive constant feedback from leadership. It does not mean you are doing anything wrong. It means we want to make you grow via constructive feedback
- Feedback is in both directions, I will expect to receive feedback from you. It is nothing person you will help me be a better leader.
- Don’t treat me differently. I only have a different role. I am here to support you.
- You will receive problems and not solutions. The how it depends on you.
- Confidence is given. A lie can destroy everything.
- Proposing is more difficult than complaining. Propose.
- It is okay to try on your own. if you don’t make progress, ask for help.
- You will get frustrated, and it is okay, this is part of the journey. Don’t keep it for yourself. Share it with me.
- You have a life outside work, some days you may start early some days you may start late, organize as per your needs. Results>hours.
- 40h per week are spent at work –have fun and enjoy the process!
- First, understand the root cause and later work on the resolution. Discover here how to do the perfect root cause analysis
Note:
These are some of the ideas that I like to share with my new employees during their first days at work.
FAQ what to tell as manager to a new hirer
What should a manager say on the first day?
As a manager, you are representing both the company and their culture.
On the first day make sure you welcome your new hirer with a positive vibe, you create a comfortable environment that makes your team the ideal team to work in by clearly sharing your expectations of what the new employee can expect from you and the team.
How do you motivate employees on the first day of work?
The best way to motivate an employee on the first day of work it is by making him/her feel special.
Contact the employee a few days before the starting day.
Meeting them on the first day in the office. Be genuinely curious about getting to know more about your employee. Introduce the new employee to the rest of the team and organization. Assign a mentor to look after your new employee. Schedule a meeting 3 days after the first day to sense check if all goes as expected.
What do you say to a new employee on the first day?
On the first day of a new employee you can welcome him/her with sentences such as:
“We are so excited to have you here”
“We are so much looking forward to seeing your contribution to the organization”
“We count on you, take your time to get settled and ask for any help you would need”
What advice you give to someone on their first day at work
The best advice to give someone on their first day at work is to take it easy,
to go step by step with the onboarding plan, to be in close contact with the manager and in case of any issue or concern, to raise a hand and connect with the manager.
Chances are high that your new employee will be working most of the time from home – discover here how your employee can be more productive when working from home.
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