Anybody who has ever joined a new team knows the butterflies and nerves that come with a new job. One of the greatest things a manager can do for a new recruit is to try and create a feeling of welcome and homeliness to make sure nerves don’t lead to an overwhelming feeling of intimidation.
In today’s topic, we look at some unique and creative ways to welcome new recruits into the workplace. We’ve covered virtual and hybrid teams too, so sit back with a coffee and let’s cruise through some ways to help new staff find their feet, rather than feel like they’ve hit the ground running.
What is a new employee announcement?
Employee announcements are the perfect time to get that first impression right with your new employee. A friendly tone set from the start creates a more positive working environment and helps to create a team culture that includes outlets for creativity and fun.
Companies can now use more ways than ever to introduce new staff to their workplace. If a company already has a well-established onboarding program, the information gained (in the interview or preboarding stage) can be used in surprising new methods to help welcome new staff.
What should be included in an employee announcement?
It’s crucial to remember that while there’s a lot to potentially be gained from carrying out a creative announcement for new hires, the balance should still be maintained between being fun and being professional. Play it safe and keep personal information out.
A good way to think about the approach is with the employee’s name. Introduce them with their first name, as well as their preferred name. Small acts of consideration like this go a long way to help make new employees feel like they’re in a place where they can be themselves.
Check details like this beforehand, then lead on to making sure the new employee is happy with the way you choose to introduce them. As a rule of thumb, basic information to include is their name, job title and department, where they’re from, professional background (if relevant), and their start date. After this, the floor is open to sharing fun facts if they’re willing, which can get the ball rolling for our 10 fun ways to make employee announcements. So without further ado, here are our ideas.
10 Fun new methods to announce your new employees
Here are our tried and tested methods of really helping new recruits feel welcomed and part of a caring, considerate workplace. Try them out as part of your onboarding process.
1. Personalized social media
To set things off properly, there are more tools than ever to create that first welcome email with a personalized touch. At a simple level, posting an introduction to the new staff allows other members of the group to react and apply emojis to boost confidence in the new recruit. The aim is to make your social media posts feel like fleshed-out words of welcome for the new person. Include a group photo, as plenty of research shows that posts that include faces drive much higher engagement.
By striking a balance between the new recruit’s basic information and their personal interests is the real sweet spot. Only personalize the introductory post with information the new recruit wants to share. Build to post with them during the onboarding process to help them feel welcomed.
2. Create a staff family tree
Here’s a fun one that works best with a close-knit workforce. There are lots of websites out there that let you create a family tree (though we don’t need an actual blood connection here). Creating a custom-made workplace ‘family’ tree can be a real hoot and a great way to create informal new bonds.
Ask each employee to provide a casual picture of themselves, and add a note or two on their hobbies, pets, favorite vacation spots, and anything that gets the conversational ball rolling. Use a well-positioned wall in the office and show that tree! After you’ve made or printed a beautiful tree adorned with members, the new staff entering the workforce can be given a branch and then adds it to the board. Let the teamwork blossom!
3. Scavenger hunt
Here’s a great and inexpensive activity that is sure to help new recruits ease those first-day butterflies. The scavenger hunt can be as simple or in-depth as you’d like and one of the best aspects of this activity is that it helps the new recruit learn two things at once. They’ll be learning the exact physical layout of the workplace, and the members of their team.
Create a list of items, riddles, and locations that employees will need to find. Break the office up into teams, ideally with the new recruit working with more senior members to ease newbie nerves. There are new apps that create unique game setups like Scavify, and really, any items can be scattered around and hidden. Try it out by hiding an ordinary office item for the first step, a printed office meme with a riddle for the next step, and finally a small prize such as a voucher for the finale. Expand as you see fit, and help those new employees find their feet in their new location.
4. Multiple channel approach
While you’re trying out new and experimental ways to make new staff feel at home, why not also try out something new with your workplace communication channels? The reward here is two-fold, as new members are introduced to their colleagues through new digital spaces, and your current teams are getting to learn new and effective communication channels.
Try syncing the company newsletter to your company’s existing Slack group, or your Whatsapp group chats. Cross-platform sharing gives new recruits swift access to anything you think would benefit them, from helpful videos on the office layout to introductory courses in their line of work. Keep your channels in sync and create a welcoming, well-organized library of resources your new recruits will enjoy delving into.
5. Video introductions
Sharing videos using modern tools is easier than ever, thanks to companies like Loom and Slack. So instead of new employees having to wait for their first day, you might find they feel more comfortable by sharing a video introduction of themselves beforehand. Present it as an optionable task there if the new recruit wishes to do it.
The benefit of a video introduction is that the new staff gets to record it at a time convenient to them, and you could easily host the video in a virtual space if other members wish to see it. Their video can be made in a place they feel comfortable, and they can choose exactly which information they want to share. This way, you never have to worry about accidentally sharing something the staff wants to keep as personal. This technique has great potential, especially for younger recruits who are increasingly interested in video-making. You never know what fantastic and creative ideas can come from these expressions.
6. Invite new staff to a trivia game
An informal setting of a trivia game is a fantastic way to help a new employee’s first few days feel as comfortable as possible. You could make a trivia quiz which has questions on the current staff, for a great get-to-know-you game. Otherwise, you might want to use one of many online quiz-building services to create general-knowledge questions. You might find a new recruit is a secret 80s-pop mastermind! Who knows?
Trivia games or quizzes usually work best on-site, as a paid evening session of work happy hour. Alternatively, arrange your trivia night in a local bar, or any social gathering space. Just be considerate and keep the meeting time early, you don’t want informal gatherings to involve much alcohol. In light of this, one of the best things about office trivia games is the ability to carry them out online, for your virtual or hybrid teams.
7. Sharing childhood photos - Guess who?
Here’s a way we can start having fun and sharing memories quickly. Reinvent the age-old practice of pinning things to your bulletin board. Instead of your usual objects like post-it deadlines and meeting topics, why not take a moment to ask everyone to bring in a childhood photo, and pin them up on the wall?
This is a tried-and-tested icebreaker in sectors like education, where a teacher wants to create a personable bond with their new students. The truth is though, the same technique is applicable for team cohesion strategies. A fun photograph of you rolling around in a muddy football shirt kickstarts great conversations for new members who really just want to take a deep breath and have a laugh with everyone!
8. Lunch-and-learn
There’s no better way to settle those butterflies in the stomach than by chowing down on great food. Encourage everyone to join a welcoming lunch-and-learn session, and keep it informal. Even as a large group icebreaker, accompanying food helps groups find it easier to break the ice and wind down, which might be sorely needed to keep a welcoming spirit up during busy periods.
In the spirit of helping your diverse teams get to know each other, staff could be encouraged to bring food that they consider their ‘taste of home.’ If you opt for the more traditional route of the company providing the food for staff, make sure it caters to any special requirements. Who doesn’t love a free lunch?
9. Two truths and a lie
Another fantastic tool used in a wide array of teambuilding activities and icebreaker sessions is the game ‘Two truths and a lie’. This is a fantastic way to help generate those get-to-know-you questions after someone has shared an interesting fact about themselves.
The setup of the game is as simple as pie. You might find it best if you, as the leader, are the first to perform. You conjure up 3 sentences about yourself, two of them being true and one of them being a lie. Share them with the listeners (ideally set up as 2 teams) and whoever guesses which one is a lie gets one point. Keep the facts light and professional (as well as believable in the case of your lie!). Enjoy the surprises that unfold from the simple act of fibbing.
10. Virtual events
There are tons of new virtual ways to help a new employee get to grips with the office. As friendly as your current crew might be, joining a new company always comes with some feelings of nervousness. This step is for those companies set up in a remote or hybrid way.
Make a theme for the event, such as a virtual library or member lounge. For a library, compile and list your online resources and keep access channels open. For a lounge theme, create a video conference room or social media group for fresh hires, so multiple new members have a safe space to explore, socialize and ask any questions to other learners.
New recruits will feel at home when they’re part of a powerful team. Teams like this are forged on one of our fantastic team retreats!
When you have teams that work with and for one another, you know you can trust them to help new recruits feel welcome, and team-building retreats are a fabulous way to motivate those teams.
So why not consider a team retreat with us? Imagine the usual confines of your office settings melting away on a sandy beach or taking the time to appreciate nature on a countryside retreat. A quick change of environment can be as revitalizing as a complete office overhaul. Your team will have one another’s backs and be full of harmony, and new employees will recognize straight away they can trust and work with their work teams. .
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