Virtual Onboarding Challenges and Ways to Overcome Them

Onboarding is the first taste employees get of your company. It must be a pleasant and welcoming experience that puts employees at ease as they take on their new roles and carve their own space in a new workplace. A robust onboarding process can increase employee retention by 82% and performance by over 70%, according to a study by Glassdoor. It is, however, challenging to pull off an ideal onboarding experience virtually.

Challenges of Virtual Onboarding

A lot can go wrong when onboarding employees remotely. Not meeting teammates face-to-face, accessing new tools, and navigating a new workplace can all be difficult for new joiners. The following issues, particularly, can come in the way of a smooth onboarding:

Sense of Isolation

Remote employees are robbed of daily office interactions and engagement with their colleagues. This could lead to them feeling isolated and detached from the company culture and work ethic. However good the pay, a workplace that doesn’t feel like home can leave them feeling demoralized. They may start looking for places they feel at one with.

No Clear Lines of Communication

New hires may feel apprehensive about asking questions to colleagues they barely know and haven’t had the chance to meet in person. Pinging a remote colleague and waiting for a response is not the same as walking up to their desk and asking for quick help. It takes longer for new hires to figure out who they should approach for what and who could be more helpful or free to help them.

Information Overload

New employees will have loads of information to process in the first few weeks of joining a company. Even though paperwork and training are part of the deal, they can easily become overwhelming for remote hires when there is no system in place to help them navigate through the processes.

Tips to Overcome Virtual Onboarding Challenges

Communication technologies are so advanced that you can virtually onboard employees from any part of the world. However, bringing new employees on board without any face-to-face interaction can be tricky. Keep these tips in mind to virtually onboard employees and set them up for success.

Begin the Onboarding Process Before the First Day

Virtual onboarding is not something that should start on the first day of work. Ensure that your hires are provided with all necessary equipment early. Notify employees of their schedules and send session invites to their personal mail in advance. Early introductions with teams and co-workers can help them avoid feeling isolated on their first day. These measures will allow your hires to feel comfortable and confident right away.

Improve Employee Engagement

Give your new hires simple tasks initially and let them achieve small wins that make them feel engaged and productive. It might be challenging to establish a connection with the team virtually, but a structured onboarding process can help new hires open up and bond with their colleagues. Assign an onboarding buddy to guide the new employee and answer questions they may have. Schedule informal meet and greets, virtual icebreakers, feedback sessions, and team-building games during the onboarding process.

Address Communication Barriers

Teams often have specific ways of communicating, and it is important to brief new employees about those norms. Be clear about the communication practices of your team as well as the individual preferences of team members, and guide new hires through the different tools used. For instance, describe what you share in particular Slack channels, email response time, and how to get in touch if they have a quick question.

Training Sessions Optimized for Virtual Audience

Attending back-to-back sessions can get tiring when done virtually. Spread your training sessions evenly so that your new hire has time to learn and put new skills into practice. It is important to provide ample time because they will have to do most of the learning on their own. And make sure that the training sessions cater to a virtual audience, with shorter duration, frequent breaks, and interaction opportunities.

Set Clear Goals and Expectations

Remote employees should be given a clear picture of their job roles, responsibilities, goals, and expectations during the onboarding process. Employees can lose sight of what they are supposed to do when taking up a new role remotely. Having a well-defined set of goals and expectations can help employees navigate better through their daily tasks and settle into their new roles.

Conclusion

The virtual onboarding process sets the tone for the tenure of remote employees. Get it right and your new hires will be primed for success regardless of where they are located. Remember that onboarding is not a one-and-done process; it can take months before new team members are integrated into the company culture and work dynamic. By staying clear of the common mistakes and following the above tips you can create a smooth onboarding experience for your employees.