Welcoming New Hires at Your Offsite
Welcoming New Hires at Your Offsite
BoomPop Team · 8/21/2024
As you plan your next offsite, consider it through the lens of the new hire experience. If your newest hires are meeting colleagues for the first time, how will you ensure they feel welcome? Immersed in the culture? Not overwhelmed?
Your offsite is an extension of a new hire’s onboarding experience, which means you have a chance to be intentional with its programming. It is up to you to curate that experience so that colleagues can show up as their most vibrant and authentic selves, which begins with feeling a sense of belonging.
As you develop your offsite itinerary, consider the following ideas to integrate new hires into the team culture and make their experience a seamless continuation of their onboarding.
Here are a few ways to get started...
1. Assign a New Hire Buddy
Before the retreat begins, assign the new hire a “new hire buddy.” Have them introduced over email leading up to the retreat so they can coordinate saying “hello” right at the beginning of the first day’s festivities.
When a new hire has a guide to show them around, it releases some of the anxiety that comes from traveling in a new place with people they have never met. This “new hire buddy” could be a manager, someone on their specific team, or someone within the people team function.
2. Start with Personal Introductions
Begin by having new hires introduce themselves at the first-day kickoff. That first event when your team comes together. This breaks the ice, allows them to share a bit about themselves, and helps the rest of the team connect a face to the name.
They may be nervous right at the beginning, but those nerves will settle and they will be laughing with everyone in no time. They will realize, we are all in this together!
Example questions for new hires to answer:
Name?
Team they are joining?
Where do they live?
What is their background?
What are they most excited about with joining the company?
A silly question/something fun about themselves
This then allows colleagues to connect based on similar interests and come up to them afterwards.
3. Team Connection First
While it's tempting to introduce new hires to everyone at the offsite, it's more important to first ensure they feel a sense of belonging within their immediate team.
Encourage them to stay with their team during activities and meals, allowing them to build relationships with those they’ll work closely with on a daily basis. You may even do assigned seating at team meetings or dinners, depending on the size of your company.
By focusing on team-specific connections first, you help new hires develop a sense of safety and trust within their core group. This is crucial in the early stages of joining a new company, as strong team bonds significantly impact their comfort level and confidence.
4. Host a New Hire Social
Take the new hire onboarding experience to a new level when you organize a “New Hire Social.” This could be a lunch gathering, a pre-dinner happy hour, or any casual event that fits into the offsite itinerary. Reserve a spot and invite all new hires, along with their “new hire buddy.”
This brings together all the newest members of your team, allowing them to bond over shared experiences and emotions; especially the excitement and nerves that come with starting a new job.
This gathering strikes the perfect balance of getting to know other new hires, meeting people from other teams, all while having their new hire buddy guide them when they aren’t sure who to speak to next.
Prioritizing the new hire experience at your offsite, enables them to thrive in their roles. When they feel supported and know who to turn to with specific questions, it fosters a collaborative environment where problem-solving happens quickly.
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Planning a retreat shouldn't be stressful. Our team of experts can handle everything from venue sourcing to activity coordination, allowing you to focus on fostering connections with your team. Contact us today for a free consultation!
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