First Day… First Impressions!

We all know that nerve-wracking feeling of starting a new job, wanting to make the best possible impression and trying to learn how things work as quickly as possible. First impressions are vital, you only get one chance to make a good one and they can make a world of difference. It is common to feel pressure to impress you new team. On the other hand, businesses also want to represent themselves in a good light to their new employees. But how can managers do their part to create a good working environment, and create a good impression of the business?

1. An open but tight-knit team – Having a tight-knit team is important to ensuring that your business is represented well and that workplace operations run as smoothly as possible. However, if your team isn’t open enough to new employees, new employees may feel intimidated. To avoid this, speak to your team about a new employee and inform them about the new employee’s specific role. An open but collaborative team will not only represent your business well to your new employee, but will encourage them to get on board with your business’ unique brand identity.
2. Simple, but effective strategies – Whatever software you use, or specific requirements you have, be sure to make things as simple as possible for a new employee. Starting a new job can be daunting, not only do people feel the need to make a good impression, but they will want to learn as quickly as possible to avoid disappointing their new team. To make this less daunting, consider how you could make the strategies or software that you use as simple as possible. This may involve updating software, creating resources that explain how to use it, and encouraging your team to be on hand to answer any questions in an approachable but helpful way. This can make all the difference for a new employee, and will demonstrate to them that they will be supported within their new team in your business, which will help to build trust.
3. Checking in – Starting a new job can sometimes feel like you’ve been thrown in at the deep end, so be sure to regularly check in with your new employee to see how they are getting on. This will provide the opportunity for them to ask any questions about their work, and will provide you with an insight to how they are getting on. It is proven that business owners that regularly check in with their employees have better working relationships, happier teams, and improved productivity. By checking in with your new employee, you are demonstrating that you take their experiences in your business seriously. You will be able to solve any problems or miscommunications quickly, and your employee will settle in faster as a result.

Making a valuable first impression is all about being reflective, considering how you can make the process as seamless as possible will benefit you, your team, and your business.

Any thoughts? Comment below.