During a recent conversation with a founder about recruiting, we quickly landed on a crucial but often overlooked topic of onboarding—and how companies welcome and set up new hires. It's such an important part of building happy, engaged employees, yet it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. That conversation reminded me of a book I love: The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath, which has really shaped my thinking on creating impactful experiences.
The Heath brothers argue that the most memorable moments—the ones that truly shape us—are often the result of intentional design rather than happenstance. This philosophy is especially relevant when considering how to onboard new hires in today’s increasingly hybrid work world. I speak from experience, having been an employee who has encountered both excellent and lackluster onboarding, and as someone who has overseen the onboarding process for others.
The Importance of Being Intentional
Before the pandemic, onboarding was an immersive, in-person experience. I remember starting a new job where, even before day one, I received a detailed plan of how my first week would unfold. This helped ease the stress of the unknown and made me feel prepared and valued from the start. When I arrived, I was greeted by a welcome sign and flowers, followed by a tour of the office, introductions to the team, and lunch with the CEO. The rest of the week was filled with 1:1 whiteboard sessions that gave me a deeper understanding of my colleagues' roles and how I could contribute.
None of these gestures were revolutionary, but they were thoughtful touches that showed the company valued me by being prepared and making an effort. These moments set a positive tone for my time there.
Now, as we transition to a hybrid work model, I’ve been rethinking how to craft these defining moments, ensuring that both in-person and remote team members feel equally welcomed and engaged.
The Onboarding Glow-Up
A key lesson from The Power of Moments is that firsts and transitions are perfect opportunities to create lasting memories. In the context of onboarding, this means being thoughtful about the entire process—from the initial offer letter to the first project a new hire completes. Here are a few suggestions for how to execute this:
Create "Wow" Moments: Whether your new hire is starting in-person or remotely, creating "wow" moments remains essential. A personalized welcome package sent to their home or desk is a great start (something we love doing at Bonfire). Include items for their family too—it shows you care about the whole team. You could also offer a fun company tour (virtually or in person), or arrange a surprise appearance by a company leader during their first meeting. Whether they’re in the office or online, onboarding doesn’t have to be dull.
Build Hybrid Rapport: One of the challenges of a hybrid work model is ensuring everyone feels connected, regardless of where they’re working. To counter this, be intentional about creating opportunities for new hires to connect with colleagues. Encourage team members to reach out for introductory 1:1's or casual coffee chats. In a previous role, I would send new hires a fun questionnaire before their start date, compile their responses into a well-designed one-pager, and share it with the team via Slack on their first day. This helped bridge the gap between remote and in-office team members. Today, tools like Canva provide great templates for this, and AI can quickly generate a list of engaging questions.
Celebrate Early Wins: Celebrating small wins in a new hire’s early days can have a big impact. Whether it’s finishing their first project, contributing something valuable in a meeting, or hitting an important milestone, recognizing these moments goes a long way in building confidence and reinforcing their decision to join your team. Many companies in our portfolio have a Slack channel dedicated to celebrating wins, creating a fun, energetic space where team members can give shout-outs and virtual high-fives.
Infuse Culture Everywhere: Company culture should be woven into every aspect of your organization, whether in the office or virtual. During onboarding, find creative ways to bring your culture to life. This could mean preloading laptops with mission-driven screensavers, creating Slack channels dedicated to highlighting company values, or hosting regular hybrid town halls to keep the connection strong. It’s important to create these cultural touch-points often during the first few months, so new hires feel—and stay—connected to the mission from day one.
Adapting to a Hybrid Reality
As we navigate this hybrid world, the principles from The Power of Moments are as relevant as ever. While the format has shifted, the need to create memorable experiences remains. By being intentional in onboarding, companies can ensure new hires feel welcomed, supported, and excited about their roles, setting the foundation for long-term engagement. None of this is groundbreaking, but it’s a reminder that small, thoughtful actions can make a big difference—whether your team is in the office, working remotely, or both.
