Can a ‘Buddy System’ Boost Your Bottom Line?

For too long, CEOs have handed their newly hired executives a computer login, Wi-Fi password, a key to the washroom—and left them to fend for themselves. When you bring in a new CFO, VP of business development, or senior partner, your work is not done! You want your new superstar to become the fully productive member of your team you know they can be, right? Well, without a proper onboarding program, you’re not even giving them a chance.

That’s why I enjoyed this recent article in Harvard Business Review—and I love what the folks over at Microsoft are doing with their onboarding program. They’ve created a “buddy” system that allows new hires to get advice, build camaraderie, and understand the context of their roles in the company from someone who’s been around for a while. This kind of support allows Microsoft’s new employees to transition into productive team members quickly. 

 Through our work at HireBetter, we know that only one-third of new executives report having any meaningful support during their transition. Folks, that just ain’t good enough! A successful onboarding program not only helps the new employee—it improves the bottom line by increasing retention, shortening the time to full productivity, and reducing turnover.

 Think you are doing enough in your onboarding program? What techniques have worked for you?