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How to Create a 90 Day Executive Onboarding Plan
Section 1: Introduction to Executive Onboarding
The early success of a new leader is almost entirely defined by their ability to come up to speed quickly. The faster a new executive can gain context and begin forming key relationships, the faster they can begin driving impact in their new role.
It is critically important to have a comprehensive executive onboarding plan in place prior to the arrival of a new leader. Executive onboarding is a process that ensures the successful integration of new executives into an organization. It involves a systematic approach to orienting, assimilating, and accelerating the performance of newly appointed executives. The aim is to help them quickly understand the organization's culture, strategy, and operations, while also establishing rapport with key stakeholders.
Our leadership team at Reveal AI have served as executives at organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies, so we know how crucial the first 90 days of a leader’s tenure are. This is one reason why we are passionate about the Reveal AI product: we want to help leaders at all stages of their career, including when they are entering a new role.
In this article, we will delve into the concept of executive onboarding, its importance, the common challenges that organizations face in this process, and what we’ve learned at Reveal AI about driving success in an executive’s first 90 days.
Want to learn how you can use Reveal AI to support new leader assimilation in your organization? Read our case study.
1.1 Executive Onboarding: Not Just Another New Hire Orientation
Executive onboarding goes beyond traditional orientation programs by providing a comprehensive framework that covers not only the administrative aspects but also the strategic and cultural aspects of the organization. It involves equipping executives with the knowledge, skills, and relationships necessary to succeed in their new positions.
During the onboarding process, executives receive guidance on various aspects of the business, such as understanding the organization's vision and mission, clarifying expectations, building relationships with key stakeholders, and navigating the political landscape.
Because much of this process is based on qualitative data, such as understanding organizational culture and developing relationships, there is potential for executives to miss out on critical context if the orientation isn’t comprehensive in nature. Reveal AI is built to allow leaders to quickly engage their stakeholders with 1:1 interviews and analyze their responses, putting key data at your fingertips.
1.2 The Importance of Executive Onboarding
Effective executive onboarding is essential for both the success of the executive and the organization as a whole. It sets the foundation for a productive and long-lasting relationship between the executive and the organization. Here are some key reasons why an effective executive onboarding process is crucial:
Reduced Time to Impact
By providing executives with the necessary tools, resources, and support, onboarding accelerates their ability to contribute to the organization's goals. It helps them become productive quickly, minimizing the time it takes for them to make a positive impact in their new roles.
Enhanced Retention
Research shows that executives who go through a well-designed onboarding process are more likely to stay with the organization in the long term. By ensuring a smooth transition and facilitating early success, onboarding increases job satisfaction, engagement, and commitment.
Cultural Integration
Organizations have their unique cultures, values, and ways of doing things. Executive onboarding helps newcomers understand and adapt to the organization's culture, facilitating a smoother integration process. A critical part of this process involves surfacing these cultural insights from across your organization, ensuring that you capture accurate feedback from all of your stakeholders. Giving a voice to stakeholders and helping leaders easily understand qualitative feedback on the topic of culture is just one way that RevealAI helps leaders come up to speed in their first 90 days.
Stakeholder Engagement
Executives often need to engage with various stakeholders internally and externally. Onboarding helps them build relationships with key stakeholders, such as board members, senior leaders, employees, customers, and partners. These relationships are crucial for the executive's success and the organization's overall performance.
1.3 Common Challenges in Executive Onboarding
While executive onboarding offers significant benefits, organizations often face certain challenges when implementing the process. It is essential to be aware of these challenges to address them effectively. Here are some common challenges in executive onboarding:
Lack of Standardized Process
Many organizations lack a structured and consistent onboarding process for executives. This can lead to a fragmented experience, where each new executive goes through a different onboarding journey. Standardizing the process ensures consistency and enables organizations to learn from previous onboarding experiences.
Limited Time for Onboarding
Executives often face time constraints due to the urgency of their roles. Balancing the need for a comprehensive onboarding process with the executive's immediate responsibilities can be one of the most challenging aspects of new leader assimilation.
Consider how many stakeholders new executives need to meet with when first stepping into their new role. It can take up to a year to reach all of these stakeholders using traditional methods. With Reveal AI, leaders can accelerate their stakeholder outreach and more quickly gain crucial organizational context.
In the next section, we will explore the key elements of successful executive onboarding, providing insights into how organizations can prepare for a smooth onboarding experience.
Section 2: Executive Onboarding in Action
A smooth executive onboarding experience is crucial for ensuring the successful integration of new executives into an organization. In this section, we will explore effective strategies that organizations can implement to create a seamless onboarding process. These strategies include creating an onboarding plan, conducting a comprehensive orientation, engaging with key stakeholders, developing a learning and development program, monitoring and evaluating progress, and addressing early challenges.
2.1 How to Create an Onboarding Plan
Creating a well-designed onboarding plan is critical for a smooth executive onboarding experience. An onboarding plan outlines the activities, milestones, and timelines that the executive and the organization will follow during the onboarding period. Here are some key components of an effective onboarding plan:
Pre-boarding Activities
These activities occur before the executive officially joins the organization. They include tasks such as completing paperwork, setting up technology accounts, and communicating essential information to the executive.
Orientation Sessions
Orientation sessions provide an overview of the organization's history, structure, culture, and strategic priorities. These sessions introduce the executive to key leaders and stakeholders and help them understand the organization's vision and mission.
Meetings with Key Stakeholders
Facilitating meetings between the executive and key stakeholders is crucial for building relationships and establishing rapport. These meetings may include one-on-one sessions with board members, senior leaders, direct reports, or scaled outreach using a tool like Reveal AI.
Training and Development
Providing training and development opportunities helps the executive acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in their new role. This may involve participation in leadership development programs, industry-specific training, or executive coaching.
Ongoing Support and Follow-up
The onboarding plan should include mechanisms for ongoing support and follow-up. This may include regular check-ins with the executive, assigning a mentor or coach, or providing resources and tools to support their professional development.
Creating an onboarding plan ensures that all necessary elements are covered and helps manage expectations for both the executive and the organization.
2.2 Conducting a Comprehensive Orientation
A comprehensive orientation is a crucial component of executive onboarding. It provides the executive with the necessary information and resources to understand the organization and its operations. Here are some key elements of a comprehensive orientation:
Company Overview
A company overview provides an introduction to the organization's history, mission, vision, and values. It helps the executive understand the organization's strategic direction and its unique position in the market.
Organizational Structure
An overview of the organizational structure helps the executive understand reporting relationships, departmental functions, and key decision-making processes. It provides clarity on the executive's position within the organization and helps them navigate the organizational hierarchy.
Key Stakeholders
Identifying and introducing key stakeholders to the executive is essential. This includes board members, senior leaders, direct reports, and other individuals who have a significant impact on the executive's success. Introductions and initial meetings allow the executive to establish relationships and understand the expectations of key stakeholders.
Policies and Procedures
Familiarizing the executive with organizational policies and procedures is crucial. This includes information on HR policies, code of conduct, ethics, and compliance standards. Clear communication of these policies ensures that the executive understands the organization's expectations and can navigate their role accordingly.
Technology and Tools
Providing information and training on the technology and tools used within the organization is essential. This includes access to email systems, project management tools, communication platforms, and other software applications. Familiarity with these tools enables the executive to effectively collaborate and communicate with colleagues.
Facilities and Resources
Providing information about facilities, amenities, and resources available to the executive is important for their day-to-day operations. This includes information about office spaces, meeting rooms, support staff, and other resources that the executive may require in their role.
A comprehensive orientation equips the executive with the necessary knowledge and resources to navigate their new role within the organization.
2.3 Engaging with Key Stakeholders
Engaging with key stakeholders is a critical aspect of executive onboarding. Building relationships and establishing rapport with stakeholders helps the executive gain support, understand expectations, and navigate the organization's political landscape. Here are some strategies for engaging with key stakeholders:
One-on-One Meetings
Schedule one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders, including board members, senior leaders, direct reports, and other influential individuals within the organization. These meetings provide an opportunity for the executive to understand their perspectives, expectations, and concerns.
Scaled Outreach
Organizations should implement scaled stakeholder outreach to further support their executive onboarding process. Ensuring that key stakeholders have a voice in the onboarding process is not only important for your new executive, but for your existing stakeholders as well.
Scaled outreach can take place in the form of broadly distributed surveys, or through a tool like RevealAI that allows you to capture open-ended, qualitative data from your stakeholders.
Active Listening
Practice active listening during meetings with key stakeholders. Listen attentively, ask relevant questions, and seek clarification when needed. Active listening demonstrates the executive's commitment to understanding the stakeholder's views and fosters open communication.
Building Trust
Building trust with key stakeholders is crucial for a successful onboarding experience. Be transparent, deliver on commitments, and demonstrate integrity in all interactions. Building trust takes time and requires consistent effort, but it is essential for long-term relationships.
Seeking Input and Feedback
Actively seek input and feedback from key stakeholders on organizational challenges, opportunities, and goals. This demonstrates the executive's commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement. Incorporating stakeholder feedback helps shape the executive's strategies and decisions.
Establishing a Support Network
Identify individuals within the organization who can serve as mentors, advisors, or sponsors. These individuals can provide guidance, support, and a sounding board for the executive. Engaging with a supportive network helps the executive navigate challenges and gain different perspectives.
Engaging with key stakeholders fosters relationships, builds trust, and sets the stage for the executive's successful integration into the organization. Ensuring that your organization finds a way to reach all of its key stakeholders at scale is a critical part of this process, both for supporting new executives and ensuring that existing stakeholders have their voices heard during the onboarding process.
2.4 Developing a Learning and Development Program
A learning and development program is crucial for the executive's professional growth and success. This program should be tailored to the executive's needs and focus on enhancing their skills, knowledge, and competencies. Here are some elements to consider when developing a learning and development program:
Leadership Development
Provide opportunities for the executive to enhance their leadership skills. This may include leadership workshops, executive education programs, or coaching sessions focused on leadership competencies such as strategic thinking, communication, and decision-making.
Industry-Specific Training
Offer industry-specific training to help the executive gain a deeper understanding of the organization's sector. This training may cover industry trends, regulations, best practices, and emerging technologies. Industry-specific knowledge enables the executive to make informed decisions and contribute to the organization's competitive advantage.
Cross-Functional Exposure
Provide opportunities for the executive to work with different departments and teams within the organization. Cross-functional exposure helps the executive understand the organization's operations from different perspectives and fosters collaboration among teams.
Mentoring and Coaching
Assigning a mentor or coach to the executive can provide personalized guidance and support. Mentors or coaches can help the executive navigate challenges, offer advice, and provide insights into the organization's culture and dynamics.
On-the-Job Training
Encourage the executive to learn through hands-on experience. Assigning challenging projects or stretch assignments allows the executive to apply their skills and gain practical knowledge. On-the-job training facilitates skill development and helps the executive make meaningful contributions to the organization.
Developing a comprehensive learning and development program ensures that the executive has the necessary resources and support to excel in their new role.
2.5 Monitoring and Evaluating Progress
Monitoring and evaluating the executive's progress is essential for gauging the effectiveness of the onboarding process. It allows organizations to identify areas of success and areas that need improvement. Here are some strategies for monitoring and evaluating progress:
Regular Check-Ins
Conduct regular check-ins with the executive to assess their progress and address any concerns or challenges. These check-ins provide an opportunity to provide feedback, offer support, and ensure that the executive is on track to meet their goals.
A key part of generating regular feedback in ensuring that your feedback systems are lightweight and quick to deploy - even in large organizations. Too often, feedback systems are focused on capturing insights that are already in the past. Executives need to keep their finger on the pulse of the organization in real time, which means that your systems for gathering feedback must be able to engage, analyze, and surface insights in a short period of time.
Learn more about the benefits of realtime employee feedback in our guide for HR professionals.
Performance Reviews
Conduct performance reviews at regular intervals to evaluate the executive's performance against predefined goals and objectives. Performance reviews should include feedback from key stakeholders, direct reports, and peers to provide a holistic view of the executive's contributions.
360-Degree Feedback
Implement a 360-degree feedback process to gather feedback from colleagues, direct reports, and other stakeholders. 360-degree feedback provides a comprehensive view of the executive's strengths, areas for improvement, and their impact on others.
One benefit that RevealAI offers is the ability to craft your outreach for any purpose; whether it is gathering feedback from stakeholders early in the onboarding process, or reaching out at scale to assess executive performance, the RevealAI product can easily flex between each of these business needs.
Monitoring and evaluating progress allows organizations to make necessary adjustments to the onboarding process and ensure the executive's continued success.
Conclusion
Executive onboarding is a critical process that sets the stage for the success of new executives in an organization. By providing a structured and comprehensive onboarding experience, organizations can ensure that executives quickly integrate into their roles, understand the organization's culture, and establish relationships with key stakeholders.
Looking for more resources on executive onboarding?
Remember, executive onboarding is an ongoing process that requires adaptability and flexibility. As organizations evolve, so should their onboarding practices. Continuously monitor, evaluate, and refine your onboarding process to stay ahead and ensure the success of your new executives. With a well-designed and comprehensive onboarding program, organizations can set their executives up for success, drive organizational growth, and achieve their strategic objectives.
Want to learn more about how RevealAI can accelerate your executive onboarding program? Check out our case studies and explore our research and discovery platform for yourself!
