5 Things We Learned About Onboarding Virtual Team Members

We may be living in a time where things are a bit… different. Gone are the days where onboarding takes place inside a big room with several other newly hired employees all sharing the same airspace. In these unprecedented times, where social distancing and COVID-19 seem to be keywords consistent to every conversation, adapting is the new norm. Many companies are turning to onboarding virtual team members for the first time and finding out that they really need to work on their processes.

For those that are new to this virtual onboarding process, we’ve got some tips. Take it from Beverly Boy Productions, a team that is made up of many virtual team members (and plenty of brick and mortar facility members, too).

Here are some things we’ve learned about onboarding virtual team members over the years.

#1. Keep the Onboarding Process Visual

Videos represent the ideal means of content delivery when onboarding virtual team members. Not only will the creation of videos for your onboarding process allow you to deliver the onboarding details in a streamlined, and succinct manner.

It also allows you to track who has engaged in the content and who hasn’t. Keeping the onboarding process visual will equally ensure that up to 90% of the content that your newly hired remote team members will digest and retain the information.

#2. Provide Checklists & Self-Paced Learning Initiatives

Onboarding virtual team members can be a lengthy process. You’ll want to make sure that you provide a checklist that outlines the entire onboarding process as well as a set of self-paced learning initiatives for the new team members to engage in. Don’t overwhelm the team members.

Instead, offer the information and provide ample time for them to gradually consume more of the content and engage in the self-paced learning. We like to offer monthly learning opportunities for continued growth of our virtual team.

#3. Provide Video Training

Onboarding should include video training for virtual team members. Consider onboarding training videos that touch on topics as vague as policies and procedures as well as topics that are as detailed as individual roles and responsibilities.

The good thing about providing video training is that you can create one video library and use it for future onboarding of virtual team members over and over again.

#4. Host Video Training in a Library, Vault or Hub

Video content is ideal for onboarding virtual team members, but if they don’t have a way to find the videos or to get back to them later on, you’re losing out on a lot of value.

Consider hosting your onboarding and training video content in a library, vault or hub that is accessible from the internet. The idea here is to allow critical training content to remain in a single, easy to access, location where team members can get to it as needed.

#5. Keep the Stage Open for Questions

The first few days for a new employee are tough. Onboarding virtual team members is the first of many steps that will take place throughout your working relationship.

Now, probably more than ever, newly hired remote workers will have questions and concerns with all the content and information you’re delivering to them.

Keep the stage open for questions. Be available to help as needed, and make sure it is easy for virtual team members to get in touch with you — especially in those first few days.

Ready to create onboarding videos for your business to start onboarding virtual team members? Give Beverly Boy Productions a call today to get started!