Do you Welcome or do you Alienate?

I often talk about some one's "inviting factor" which includes the ways we attract, invite, welcome and include other people.

Today I want to direct your attention to how "welcoming" you or your company is at inviting new hires and ensuring they have a pleasant and productive early experience with you.

How do you attract top talent? (Some companies do a great job at attracting you and post-hire forget to include the welcome wagon.) What do you do for new hires to orient them to you, your company, their teams, the city, etc...? What process do you have in place to ensure they have all that they need to get started on the right foot? Who's in charge of that process? Do you survey them (after hire and at exit) on the orientation and welcome process? You should.

I can tell you from personal experience that less than 10% of companies I've worked for/with and interacted with do a good-to-great job at welcoming new employees. They all think they do- but they don't. Some of the top companies in the world fail to help employees navigate a new city, assign a consultant (not a unmarried employee who is expected to "show them around") to ensure they find everything they need (new house, social activities, etc...), and in general help them to acclimate for the first 90 days.

I encourage you to consider the impression you make on a new hire when you fail to welcome him/her in the best fashion possible. Be the best. Hire the best. And, treat them well. They, in turn, will likely do the same for you.