The importance of a comprehensive induction training program

For many business owners the word ‘induction’ simply means unproductive activities that just consumes time and money behind stationaries and ‘cloud space’ (back in those days it was huge cupboards to maintain employees files). The truth is that a good Induction means more than a simple or complex documentation process or a banking formality session. It means more that those 300 odd pages of policies and regulations (which I believe nobody reads and very few understand) that parties sign off. In my opinion a good induction program is not a cost but a future investment:

1.      An investment that can save your business the costs of hiring, training and retaining.

2.      An investment that can provide all necessary tools to do the job right with consistency.

3.      An investment that adds value to the business environment and culture.

So, the question here is what should be included to develop a good induction plan and what is the importance of a comprehensive induction plan?

This article will highlight some of the major points which could be useful for your business.

1.      Business culture and values:

Although documentation is an important part of the induction process it is also important for businesses to highlight their core values. This can be done by dedicating some time during the induction process to discussing the values thoroughly, one by one. This can also be done by developing ‘Value-based KPIS’ (to read more about this please check my previous article on developing simple performance management system) that can be included in the induction process.

The importance of establishing the businesses values to your new employees is that it gives them the opportunity to align their values to your business. By doing so one can feel the importance of belongingness which could help them to settle quickly in the environment.

2.      Organisation Goals, mission and vision statement:

An important element of a good induction plan should be to define the organisations goals, mission and vision statement clearly. This is important for delivering a clear understanding about the organisations direction.

3.      Companies profile past performance:

Coming into the business each new employee should be familiar with the performance of the company and where it stands in the market. A good induction plan should include a brief introduction or an ‘origin story’ of the business with a clear forecast of what it is looking to achieve in the future. It is vital for the new beginners in the business to be well educated about the history of the business.

4.       Important policies:

As already mentioned, documentation is very important part of the process but even more important is that both party understand the important terms and agreement.

I would recommend that businesses along with their company policies should develop a module and provide a session on important policy subjects like ‘sexual harassment’, ‘serious misconduct’, ‘drug and alcohol’ and even ‘OH&S/WH&S’.

The importance of having a session dedicated to this is that the business is not only spreading awareness but also highlighting the ‘danger zones’ and seriousness of such matters.

This also shows that the business seriously cares for each employee and hence building a sense of security among new staff.

5.      Educating the employees around the Fair Work:

It is always good to dedicate time during the induction session towards educating your staff around the Fair Work Act and other legislations. It is just not enough to hand them an information sheet on this subject, rather I would recommend that the HR should brief them and discuss around some basic points.

This reduces the scope of conflicts and gives a better understanding for managing conflicts in the future. Both parties can be aware of their rights and ‘duties of care’. Finally, it also creates a perception of fairness among the employees.

6.      KPIS and Performance:

The idea of discussing the roles, responsibilities, duties and KPIS is of utmost importance. A good Induction plan must include the clear description of the job to be performed. All KPIS must me discussed and agreed upon before starting work. This will give both the parties a clear picture of what is being expected at the end of the day. It will also form a recognised platform for managing performance.

7.      Feedback session:

Feedback session is a very important part of any program and hence it is a must that your new staff get an opportunity to speak and reflect their opinions on various subject matters.

This gives you an opportunity to understand your new staff better and good ideas for future innovation.

If you are a business struggling to build an induction program plan, with policies and procedures or require assistance in developing KPIS and Performance management system, please feel free to contact me.

Hope this article has helped you and please feel free to add any or critique any points.