Finding the right talent is not an easy task. Acclimating new employees efficiently and effectively is an even bigger challenge. According to a Gallup report, a new employee takes around 12 months to become fully productive in their new role. While robust onboarding and training are essential, what if you could achieve them in half the time?
Mark Miller, Managing Director of Advisory Services at J.D. Power, sat down with John Riel, Director of Exhibitor Support at Freeman, to discover the secret to their expedited training program. How does the Freeman team successfully onboard employees in only six months?
Freeman’s Strategic Training Method
Post-hire, Freeman employees engage in a virtual classroom experience with key training benchmarks at 45, 90, and 120 days. Building upon this standard onboarding, Freeman takes a crucial next step: personalized learning. At each of these stages, trainers proactively survey new employees to pinpoint specific areas where they identify a need for further support. Recognizing that individuals learn and retain information at their own pace, the Freeman team leverages this feedback to design focused, 90-minute to 2-hour training sessions directly addressing these identified areas of opportunity.
The Measurable Impact
This targeted system has skyrocketed productivity. While traditional onboarding and development can take up to a year, the Freeman team has found that this method of precisely identifying and addressing specific training needs effectively closes that gap in roughly half the time.
How does the Freeman team measure the impact of this accelerated learning curve? They closely monitor key performance indicators such as Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and Quality Assurance scores, both of which have seen notable improvements.
Employee surveys reveal that new hires feel more supported, which directly contributes to lower attrition as they receive essential tools that maximize their effectiveness and job performance.
The Takeaway
Freeman’s approach proves that at the end of the day, your employees know what they need to succeed. Taking the time to personalize training is not just a sign that you value your employees, it’s also a practical way to equip them with the tools and confidence to perform at their best.
For more strategies and best practices, watch our ongoing video series Conversations with Service & Support Top Performers.