Taking a week to onboard new hires helps see them come in welcomed, prepared and with clarity on what they need. When it comes to team-building activities in the first week, simple and low-pressure structure is best – meant to create connections without overwhelming anyone.
Day One: Meet one another and greet each other. Kicking off with a light “meet the team” plus icebreaker (2 truths and a lie, or show and tell your desk/bag) Buddy: Pair every new hire with a buddy for daily check-ins.
Day 2: How you work. Hold a ‘ways of working’ workshop where the team defines what their preferred communication channels, meeting norms and response times are, as well as how can one best support them. Be practical, and jot down the expectations to which you both agree.
Day 3: Mini collaboration challenge. Create an integrated learning solution within small mixed teams. Leverage task around 30–45 mins: Mindstormings in an easy process or customer scenario solving. It represents a target for new hires to participate in decision-making, not a standard that they need to meet perfectly.
Day 4: Social connection. Consider team lunch, coffee walk or virtual coffee roulette. Ensure conversation seems organic by using small groups. Why not consider an outdoor activity like Corporate Team Building Activities at //www.270climbing.com/group-activities/corporate-team-building/
Day 5: Reflection and the next steps. Wrap up the week with a quick “wins and questions”: what was successful, where there are still gaps in their understanding, something they’re looking forward to doing soon.
Remember above all to maintain activities that are inclusive and respectful for diverse personalities. When you take time to create a well thought out and calm onboarding plan, you build trust immediately and give new employees the ability to contribute more quickly.