7 Ways to Keep New Employees Engaged and Excited to Work for You

You want to keep new employees as excited about the job as they were when they took it.

Sure, those first few months can be exciting, rewarding (and sometimes exhausting).

And you want to keep that level of energy alive.

Keep New Employees Enthralled

That honeymoon phase can last longer if you think more about those first impressions you give employees. In fact, one bad impression in those early days, weeks and months can cause new employees to bold for the door sooner than you can imagine.

And that’s why you want to head off disengagement and keep new employees enthralled.

Here are seven guidelines that will help:

1. Keep Up With Progress

Those first impressions last at least the first few weeks of a new employee’s experience on the job. So many people, experiences and processes will make an impression on new employees: It’s not just the new hire’s direct supervisor.

So when you’re the leader, you want to make a point to keep up with the new employee’s progress if they’re dealing with teammates and mentors quite a bit. That shows you really care about how they’re doing, and it puts your face in front of them so they don’t forget it’s you they work for.

2. Show Some Personal Interest

Showing more than a passing interest in new employees’ lives goes a long way.

People like to talk about themselves. Research proves people become more motivated and think better of others when they’re asked about and given the opportunity to talk about themselves. So ask.

Even better, tell new employees a little bit about yourself, whether it’s pointing out a hobby or sharing a story about your family — especially if either is something you both care about.

Letting new hires see you’re willing to show them a personal side puts them at ease almost instantly. It reminds them that they’re working for a human being.

3. Follow the Rules

If new employees are repeatedly told about the hard-and-set rules the company keeps, and the ones you’ve laid down, they’ll do their best to see they don’t break them even by accident.

So, if they catch you, the manager, regularly breaking those rules, they’ll think you’re too important to obey like everybody else.

Reinforce the rules by being sure to follow them yourself; it tells new employees they apply to everyone.

4. Be Mindful of Their Time

We know you’re busy. New employees know you’re busy, too. So they might be mindful of how much hand-holding they need before truly diving into their new jobs.

Be aware of the time constraints, deadlines and milestones they’re required to deal with to master their new positions.

If you start thinking that your time is more important than theirs, remember that their time is your time; they’re an extension of your department. Show them you’re willing to help when needed so you don’t impede their progress.

5. Make Patience a Habit, Not Just a Virtue

New employees want to avoid taking up valuable minutes of your day with too many questions and the stops-and-starts that come with being a rookie on the job.

So when they come to you with questions no one else can adequately answer (and they will), ensure them that you’re there to help. Make it a point to either immediately address them or get back to them.

Appearing impatient with their lack of know-how makes you appear disrespectful. Consider that maybe they went to someone else for help first, and that person told them to see you.

Leadership and hiring consultant Jeff Kortes calls this a part of giving employees (especially new ones) some “C.R.A.P.”: caring, respect, attention and praise. When people need you, they need you right away. If you put them off, the likelihood they’ll come to you in the future drops off considerably. You want to make time to understand their problems and help to solve them.

6. Praise Early Milestones

There’s no need to continually praise new employees for basic tasks they do. But when managers take note of a successful “first” – a first sale, a first customer problem solved, a first presentation – it can make a new employee’s day or even their week.

Just make sure you’re not too liberal with it in the early going, or new hires will start to think everything they touch is gold. That’s one impression you don’t want to give.

Praise is for when people exceed expectations, not just do their job.

7. Radiate Positivity

This doesn’t mean you can’t have an occasional grumpy day. It means when you’re in contact with your new hires, approach problems and setbacks as cheerfully as possible.

When they know you can roll with the everyday punches of work life, they know you won’t freak out every time they make an honest mistake or somehow come up short.

Of all possible first impressions, this probably means the most to new employees. It allows them to breathe and retain confidence that they are free to come to you with problems and questions – and screw up once in a while.