Orchestra conductor Andris Nelsons is certain that “The music does the leading”, and not him. (In an interview in Egon Zehnder’s “The Focus”.) The same is true for onboarding.
In an orchestra, things progress from components to instruments to notes to music to emotions. Put the components of strings and wood together – get a cello. Apply the bow – get notes. Assemble the notes together in the right way – produce music, which impacts emotions.
Similarly, it is important to get disparate efforts across recruiting, hiring and accelerating new employees working together to create the music of onboarding. This requires integration across levels and silos across talent acquisition, accommodation, assimilation and acceleration. It requires moving beyond the mechanics of each individual component to create emotional bonds.
Nelsons asks “What it finally comes down to is: Are we touched by the music or not?” It’s the right question for onboarding as well. Is the new employee touched by the organization? Is the organization touched by the new employee? Are they creating music together?
George Bradt – PrimeGenesis Executive Onboarding and Transition Acceleration
