Acculturation Onboarding for Executives

Are you bringing in a new addition to your C-suite? Onboarding an executive can be a pretty involved process. These are often the only individuals in a company who are hired under contractual instead of at-will employment terms. Hammering out the fine print and ensuring all agreements are clear is an important part of the transactional portion of onboarding. Then, there is the acculturation side of things.

An executive is actually responsible for helping create the company culture - as well as upholding the norms and expectations that are already in place. Here are some ways to use the acculturation process to set your new executive up for success as a leader in your organization:

Networking at the Top

An executive needs to be integrated into the company hierarchy starting at the top. Arranging a conference with the newly hired executive's peers can help start things off on the right foot. Department directors should be included in discussions about the role of the new executive to ensure that the importance of interdepartmental collaboration is emphasized early on.

Connecting with Middle Management

Arranging for an in-person group introductory meeting with managers and supervisors sets an example for good communication. This is especially effective if one or more helpful suggestions from the managerial staff are implemented by the new executive within his or her first 2 months on the job. Creating a reputation for taking advice from those who have been around long enough to "know the ropes" is a good precursor to making other changes that the executive may feel are necessary for improving operations.

Getting to Know the Troops

The exec should also be introduced to your rank and file employees. At a large company (or one with multiple locations), this can be done online. A podcast, a video introduction, a guest post on the corporate blog, and other social networking tools can be used to make the executive approachable. With the AllegroHR Acculturation Portal, uploading fresh content is a simple process that can be carried out whenever a change at the leadership level requires updated messaging. Having your executive go through the same process of online tutorials and orientation as your entry level employees can also be helpful in making sure the new exec fully understands your HR branding and how workers perceive the company.