Employee onboarding is the key to crafting a cohesive and innovative team. At Pearlside, we’re always looking for groundbreaking practices that can enrich our approach to welcoming new members into our fold. In this spirit, we reflect on a particularly transformative onboarding experiment we conducted at a startup centered around the tradition of Wednesday breakfasts.
The Tradition of Wednesday Breakfasts
The experiment began with a simple idea: what if the first encounter for new employees wasn’t a barrage of forms and introductions but a shared meal? This led to the birth of our Wednesday breakfast tradition, an initiative designed not just to welcome newcomers but to weave them into the fabric of our team from their very first day. But the real magic happened when we introduced Appreciative Inquiry cross-interviews into the mix.
Appreciative Inquiry: A Deeper Connection
During these breakfast sessions, new hires engaged in conversations far beyond the typical workplace introductions. Through Appreciative Inquiry, we dove into discussions about individual talents, aspirations, and how each person envisioned contributing to the company’s success. This approach turned a simple get-to-know-you exercise into a powerful tool for uncovering the potential within each team member.
Following these intimate conversations, each participant presented their interview partner’s talents and wishes to the whole group. This practice deepened the understanding and connection between team members and fostered a culture of empathy and appreciation.
A Corridor of Aspirations
The impact of these conversations extended well into the company’s daily life. We captured the talents and wishes shared during these breakfasts and displayed them in a corridor for all to see. This living mosaic of our team’s dreams and skills became a constant source of inspiration, reminding us of the diverse strengths we bring to our collective mission.
Elevating Pre-Onboarding with Personalized Tech Choices
There’s a memorable story from a startup where, upon arrival, new hires were greeted with an extraordinary sign of trust: the CTO would hand over his company credit card and security code and send them to the nearby Apple Store to pick their preferred laptop. This gesture displayed immense trust and empowered the new employees to choose the tools they felt most comfortable with. Drawing inspiration from this story, we’ve evolved the practice for a smoother start. We’ve integrated a preference selection into our pre-onboarding process, recognizing the importance of having the right tools from day one. New team members are invited to choose their preferred laptop ahead of their start date, allowing to set everything up and ready for them when they arrive.
A Warm Welcome with Customized Swag Boxes
In addition to equipping the new hires with their chosen tech tools, we’ve crafted a special welcome experience through personalized swag boxes. Imagine the delight of arriving on your first day or, for our remote team members, receiving a package at home to find a beautifully curated box awaiting you. This box, thoughtfully assembled and branded with the company’s identity, contains a selection of handpicked items designed to make each new team member feel immediately part of the community. From high-quality apparel, like hoodies and t-shirts, to practical yet fun gadgets and personalized notes of welcome from the team, each element is chosen to convey warmth, excitement, and a sense of belonging. This swag box accompanies remote employees’ preferred laptops, ensuring they have both the tools and the team spirit in their hands from the moment they start.
Fostering Connection Through the Buddy System
The buddy system is at the heart of the onboarding process and is designed to ensure that every new hire feels supported and welcomed from the outset. Each new member is paired with a seasoned employee—a “buddy”—who guides them through the initial maze of joining a new company. This buddy is not just a source of answers to the myriad of questions that arise during the first few weeks, but also a friendly face and a personal connection to the company’s culture and work environment. By providing one-on-one support, the buddy helps the new hire navigate the nuances of their role, the dynamics of their team, and the broader organizational culture. This relationship is instrumental in helping new team members quickly feel at home, fostering a sense of belonging and accelerating their integration into the company.
Building Relationships and Achieving Goals in the Early Weeks
During the crucial first few weeks on the job, the focus extends beyond just training and support; we emphasize the opportunity for new hires to build meaningful relationships within their teams. This period is designed not only to understand their role and responsibilities but also to foster connections vital for personal growth and team cohesion. To facilitate this, we introduce new team members to a structured framework where specific goals and activities are marked each week. These are visibly tracked on the team Kanban board, allowing for transparency and collective support. This method helps organize the onboarding process and encourages involvement from the entire team, creating a supportive environment where assistance and guidance are readily available. It’s a way for new hires to see the immediate impact of their contributions and for existing team members to participate actively in the newcomer’s integration. Through this approach, we ensure that the journey of the first few weeks is not just about acclimating to a new role but also about weaving new threads into the fabric of our team’s dynamic, creating a stronger, more interconnected community.
The Path Forward
Reflecting on those startup experiments, we see the power of innovative onboarding practices in filling roles and nurturing a community of engaged, forward-thinking individuals. The lessons from the Wednesday breakfast tradition have inspired us to continue exploring and implementing creative ways to welcome and integrate new talent.
We’re committed to transforming the onboarding process into an opportunity for meaningful connection and collaboration. By embracing the insights gained from this experiment, we aim to foster a culture where every team member feels valued, understood, and empowered to contribute to the shared vision for the future.
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