How Much Should New Hires Focus on Building Peer Relationships? Webpage uri icon

abstract

  • From formal mentorship and training to networking events and social activities, there are many approaches to onboarding new employees. But how much of a role should relationship building among a cohort of new hires play in this critical process? In their recent research, the authors found that focusing on helping new hires build connections with each other can help them adjust to their new workplace faster, contribute work sooner, and stay at the company longer but when taken too far, it can also impede their ability to grow and advance. In light of this Goldilocks effect, the authors offer three suggestions for managers and HR leaders: Facilitate meaningful connections between new hires, encourage newcomers to balance networking and learning about work tasks, and track key onboarding metrics to ensure you can identify and address any shortcomings in new hires relationship building or their tactical skills development.

author list (cited authors)

  • Zhou, L. e., & Campbell, E. M.

complete list of authors

  • Zhou, Le||Campbell, EM

publication date

  • August 2022