May 24, 2017 | 5 min read
4 Ways To Make A New Coworker Feel Welcome

Catherine

Regardless of how long you have been with your current employer, you most likely remember your first day on the job. It’s a feeling that can usually be described as a mix of anxious excitement and varying levels of nervousness. Similar to your first day of school, it is difficult to predict how well you’ll mesh in a new environment with people you’ll spend a significant amount of your time with.

So, when it comes time to welcome a new person to the office, you definitely want to make sure that any unease your new coworker may feel is mitigated before they fully dive in. As someone who has already been with the company for some time, you’re in a valuable position to help your coworker get situated so they can start contributing early in their tenure.

Welcoming a new coworker soon? Here are four ways to ease their transition into their new role:

Give them a tour of the office

There’s a good chance that part of your new coworker’s orientation includes a tour of the office, but you’ll still want to provide them with your own version. By giving your personal version of a tour, you can introduce them to people outside of your team that you’re friendly with. While they may be spending most of their time with you and the other members of your team, you still want to foster an open and welcoming environment. This includes encouraging collaborative and friendly relationships with a variety of people throughout the company.

Make Yourself Available

Before your new coworker begins their first day, you’ll want to make sure you have a relatively clear calendar during their first week. No matter how experienced or proficient they are, they are bound to have questions and be in need of some guidance before they completely settle into their responsibilities and routine. In order for them to feel welcome, it’s important for them to know that you’re accessible and more than willing to give them guidance should they need it.

Have something for them to do right away

When bringing a new hire up to speed, it’s tempting to give them a very minimal amount of work. While you may have good intentions, giving a new employee nothing to do can make them feel awkward and unproductive. To prevent this from happening, have them read up on company materials, or give them a small task that may help out another member of the team. Helping them make small accomplishments early on will help them adjust more quickly and make them feel part of the team.

Plan a team outing

At some point during your new coworker’s first week, plan an outing for them to get to know the team on a more casual level outside of the office. Whether that is a group lunch or a happy hour, making them feel welcome and valuable to the team early on will set the tone for their entire employment experience. It’s an excellent opportunity for you to get to know them on a more personal level and encourage company cohesion not just for them, bur for your whole team as well.

 

 

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