People learn in different ways and in understanding how they learn best you will be able to enhance their learning experience. One common classification of learning styles includes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile learners. Visual learners grasp information best through visual aids, such as diagrams, charts, or videos. Auditory learners, on the other hand, learn more effectively through listening and they often benefit from lectures, discussions, or podcasts. Kinesthetic/tactile learners thrive in hands-on experiences, such as experiments, simulations or physical activities that engage their senses. No matter what the preferred learning style is, it is always best to incorporate a variety of methods to keep the learning experience interesting.
Some methods you can use to onboard a new starter include:
- Online events or online learning
- Reading company documents and manuals
- Simulations – mock interviews, business development calls, handling objections
- Face-to-face events and sessions with the team, people from different parts of the business, or a client/customer
- Formal sessions, such as a structured session with senior leaders about the organisation’s vision, aims and objectives
- Informal sessions, such as meeting senior leaders over lunch
- One-to-one sessions with you
- Company-wide events
Where the new starter and/or their team work remotely, either for some or all of the time, it may not be possible to use as many different onboarding methods.
