By
Ecential Team
July 7, 2025
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Updated:
July 7, 2025
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5 min read
Hey — Let’s Talk Onboarding (Because There’s a Right Way to Do It)
Here’s the deal: there’s a mountain of research out there about employee onboarding. You could spend hours down the Google rabbit hole, or — better yet — you could let us do the homework for you. 📚✨
We rounded up two of the smartest, simplest onboarding frameworks you can actually use without losing your mind. Whether you’re welcoming your first hire or dusting off a stale process, these will help you build an onboarding experience people actually enjoy.
**Top 2 Onboarding Methods That Work (and Don’t Bore People)
🔹 1️⃣ The 6 C’s of Onboarding** This classic comes from the good people at SHRM and Preppio. It’s clear, easy to remember, and covers all the bases:
• Compliance: Get those HR forms, passwords, and policies signed and sorted.
• Clarification: Make sure your new hire knows what their job is (you’d be surprised how often this gets missed).
• Confidence: Provide early wins, training, and the tools they need to feel awesome.
• Connection: Pair them up with a buddy, set up Slack intros, and help them find where the snacks are.
• Culture: Share your team traditions, favorite GIFs, and what makes your workplace your workplace.
• Check-back: Follow up. Keep the convo going. Nobody likes to be ghosted after Week 2.
👉 Check out the full 6 C’s breakdown here
🔹 2️⃣ Harvard/MIT’s Brainy (But Practical) Approach Turns out onboarding isn’t just about training videos and HR paperwork. 🥱 The smart folks at Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan found that onboarding works best when it’s personal and social. Here’s their 4-part strategy:
• Organizational Identity: Share your mission, purpose, and the “why” behind what you do.
• Socialization: Build connections fast — think peer mentors, welcome lunches, and intro games.
• Personal Identity: Let new hires be themselves, not just another name on a roster.
• Formal Structure: Have a real, step-by-step plan. No winging it.
👉 See their research summary here
Build Your Fun + Effective Onboarding Plan Okay — frameworks picked. Now, here’s how to turn them into a timeline: Before Day One: Pre-Boarding
• 📧 Send a welcome email with their schedule, team bios, and login info.
• 🎁 Bonus points for mailing them a welcome kit or personal note.
• 🎥 Include a quick video from the CEO or their new team.
Day One: Orientation, But Actually Fun
• ✅ Cover the basics (HR, payroll, logins).
• 👋 Introduce them to the team.
• 🤝 Assign a buddy. It improves retention and lunch plans.
Weeks 1-4: Build Confidence & Connection
• 🎯 Set clear goals and expectations.
• ☕ Plan a coffee chat or happy hour (virtual or IRL).
• 💬 Schedule regular check-ins.
🏆 First 90 Days: Integrate + Celebrate
• 🎉 Recognize their first wins.
• 📚 Offer extra training and mentorship.
• 🗨️ Keep asking for feedback — and act on it.
🎈 6-12 Months: Keep the Momentum Going
• 🚀 Career development convos.
• 🙌 Celebrate milestones.
• 🔄 Keep those check-ins coming.
💡 Final Thought: It’s Not a One-Day Thing The best onboarding plans are like a great playlist 🎶 — curated, engaging, and designed to leave people in a good mood. You’re not just handing out handbooks; you’re building confidence, community, and culture from the start.