Beyond the Basics: Why New Hire Success Hinges on Understanding the Big Picture

It's no secret that starting a new job can be a daunting experience. 

There's the pressure to learn new skills, adapt to a new work environment, and prove your worth to your new employer. 

But for many new hires, the challenges go beyond simply learning how to do their jobs.

Often, new hires struggle to change or evolve their jobs, even when they have the skills and knowledge to do so. 

This can be due to a lack of context or backstory – in other words, a lack of understanding about the bigger picture of their role and how it fits into the organization's goals and mission.

WE ARE IN SUCH A HURRY!

In our rush to get new hires up to speed and performing the tasks required for the job, we often focus solely on teaching them the process and steps to achieve the desired output. 

This approach can work well for employees who have previous experience in the industry, with the customer, or in the role. They already have context and understanding of the job, so they can quickly get up to speed and become effective.

BUT WHAT ABOUT NEW HIRES FROM A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY?

However, for employees who don't have that context, things can be more challenging. It may take them longer to get up to speed and become effective because they are only being taught how to do the job, without understanding the broader picture of why they're doing it, how it came to be, and how it impacts the customer, their co-workers, and other teams.

The lack of context becomes even more significant when we want employees to innovate or change how they do their jobs to make a significant improvement in quality, speed, and cost. 

Without understanding the goals of innovation and the need for change, employees may struggle to embrace it willingly, let alone be excited about it.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE INDUSTRY OR CUSTOMER CHANGES?

Furthermore, if the industry or customer needs change, and the job needs to be re-thought, employees without the necessary context may find it nearly impossible to visualize the new goals of innovation and understand why the change is needed.

SLOW DOWN TO SPEED UP!

To avoid these challenges, it's essential to provide new hires with the necessary context and backstory from the beginning. 

This means teaching them not just how to do the job but also why the job matters, what the goals are, and how it fits into the bigger picture of the organization's mission and values.

By doing so, new hires will be better equipped to understand the need for change, embrace innovation, and contribute to the organization's success. 

With a clear understanding of the context and backstory, employees can be more motivated, engaged, and productive, leading to a more positive and successful work environment for everyone involved.

In conclusion, it's essential to recognize the value of providing new hires with the necessary context and backstory to enable them to understand the bigger picture of their roles. 

By doing so, we can help employees to not only perform their jobs but also change and evolve them, leading to more significant improvements in quality, speed, and cost, and a more positive and successful work environment.