By Janey Wellons
When an employee starts a new position, the enthusiasm and energy they bring are palpable and infectious. This in turn often sparks excitement for the entire team! Starting a new position drives innovation, productivity, and engagement. Helping employees sustain this burst of new hire energy and channeling it into long-term productivity is where companies face challenges.
While organizations cannot bring on new employees every day, this blog will dive into various strategies organizations can use to help employees maintain that energy for the long haul.
What It’s Like to Be a New Hire
Fresh Perspective
Employees joining your organization bring unique ideas and perspectives. Since they may not be familiar with the established processes or team dynamics, they will be working hard to understand and evaluate how everything works. During this time, they may discover a gap or see a way something can be improved or done differently to increase efficiency. Ultimately, this new perspective can truly invigorate established processes and teams.
Desire to Impress
After starting a new role, it typically comes with a strong desire to prove oneself. New hires want to impress their team members and direct supervisor. Their dedication and effort are heightened during this time.
Learning and Growth Mode
The rapid learning and growth that occurs in starting a new role often fuels employees’ curiosity, enhances their skills, and stimulates their intellect. During this time, they’re truly a sponge looking to soak in new skills and information and collaborate with their new team members.
With new hire changes that occur in an organization, not only are the new employees on their A game, but typically so is the entire organization and leadership team. The team and direct supervisor will want to be supportive and attentive to the employee’s needs during their transition, which a lot of employees find refreshing. These actions will not only be evident to each employee, but they will also contribute to the organization’s culture and workplace environment. For an organization, having motivated employees who show up to work every day with the same energy as that of a new hire or someone recently promoted is the ultimate goal. However challenging it may seem to help employees maintain this excitement and energy long term, it is possible!
Next, we’ll dive into several strategies organizations can utilize to help their employees sustain and keep the same energy and motivation for the long haul.
5 Strategies for Sustaining New Hire Energy Long-Term
Clear Expectations and Goals
Setting clear and achievable goals gives employees a sense of direction and purpose. When supervisors communicate their expectations, provide constructive feedback, and set short- and long-term goals with employees it allows them to understand their role, make improvements, and continue growing.
2. Foster a Culture of Continuous Learning
Continuous learning is a key driver of long-term employee engagement. When organizations provide new training and development opportunities like workshops, online courses, and mentorship programs, it fuels professional growth and empowers employees. When employees feel competent and that they are constantly learning, their enthusiasm remains high.
3. Recognize and Rewards Achievements
Taking the time to recognize and reward employees is crucial. While this blog focuses a lot on intrinsic motivation, rewards can also serve as a powerful extrinsic motivator. Celebrate achievements, both big and small to show appreciation for your employees’ hard work. Whether it’s a simple “thank you for all your hard work” email, an award, a bonus, or even something as big as a promotion – when employees feel valued, they are more likely to remain loyal and committed to their roles.
4. Encourage Empowerment and Autonomy
Empowering employees to take ownership of their work can lead to increased job satisfaction and sustained motivation. Supervisors can encourage autonomy by delegating meaningful tasks and allowing their employees to make decisions within their areas of responsibility. When employees feel trusted and empowered, they are more likely to stay engaged and proactive.
5. Wellness and Work-life Balance
A healthy work-life balance is crucial for maintaining long-term energy and motivation. Encourage employees to take breaks, use their vacation days, and disconnect from work outside of office hours. Promote a flexible work environment where employees can manage their personal and professional lives effectively. A balanced approach helps prevent burnout and keeps employees energized.
Maintaining the initial energy and enthusiasm of new hires requires a strategic approach. By fostering continuous learning, setting clear goals, recognizing achievements, encouraging autonomy, and promoting work-life balance, you can sustain long-term motivation and drive within your team. These strategies will not only keep your employees engaged, but it will also contribute to the overall success and growth of your organization! And you get an added bonus! These tips not only work for new hires, but also employee promotions (who in a way, are also new hires).
Ready to hire some energetic and motivated team members? Consider partnering with TalentRemedy. Our industry experts specialize in helping companies hire top talent to keep your organization successful. Contact us at info@talentremedy.com or 703-362-0175 to set up a time to learn more about how our team can support your hiring needs.
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