Months 2-3: Speed to Readiness

The new employee is starting to find their rhythm – navigating systems, learning who’s who and gaining clarity on your team’s priorities. These next months are about turning awareness into alignment by helping them understand their role in the bigger picture and building the confidence to contribute more independently.

You can support the new employee during this phase by:

• Clarifying Priorities: Help them validate what they’ve learned so far. Reiterate key goals and explain how their work connects to broader team and organizational objectives.
• Encouraging Exploration: Create space for continued learning. Encourage them to explore internal processes, systems and networks. Invite them to observe cross-functional meetings or shadow colleagues to broaden their perspective.
• Building Confidence: Reinforce what’s going well and provide feedback that supports their growing confidence. Coach them through any areas that still feel uncertain, offering guidance and reassurance.
• Facilitating Connections: Recommend people they should meet or reconnect with, especially outside the immediate team. These relationships help build context and lay the groundwork for future collaboration.
• Modeling Cultural Norms: Help the employee interpret and navigate the organization’s culture. Share insights on how decisions are made, how information flows and which behaviors are most effective.

Remember, every new role takes time to fully absorb. Your new employee is building a foundation for long-term success. Encourage them to keep leaning in, asking questions and staying curious.

Wexner Medical Center Leaders: For additional onboarding resources and guidance specific to the Wexner Medical Center, visit go.osu.edu/wmconboarding.