As you navigate the process of welcoming new members to your church staff, it's essential to give careful thought to the onboarding experience. Believe it or not, Amazon, the giant e-commerce conglomerate, can offer valuable lessons that churches can utilize for successful onboarding.
The e-commerce giant ensures that every new hire knows precisely where to go, who they'll meet, and what success looks like by the end of day one. This clarity is something that churches should aspire to when incorporating new team members.
Amazon relies on systems, not superstars, to carry out its successful onboarding process. Their system bears the burden of onboarding, rather than relying on a singular person. Standardized processes are key for churches in maintaining consistency and providing a detailed roadmap for the first 30, 60, or more days for a new hire.
Amazon frequently assesses the performance of every new employee because bad habits can start on day one. Rather than waiting for problems to escalate, feedback and check-ins should be built into your onboarding process. These feedback sessions are an opportunity for questions, clarity, and coaching.
Amazon ensures training videos, mission stories, and safety protocols align with their mission and the techniques to achieve it. Your onboarding process should combine the mission (why you do this work) and mechanics (how you do this work) too.
Ultimately, your onboarding process doesn't need to rival Amazon in size, but needs to be intentional, clear, and consistent. A thoughtful approach to onboarding leaves new hires feeling they're joining something meaningful and makes it clear how they can efficiently contribute.
Making just one change to your onboarding process can significantly improve the experience for your new hires and overall efficiency of your church staff. Remember, an employee's first day can leave a lasting impression. Make it count.
For further insights on the onboarding process, listen to today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode here.