🎒 Microlesson

🪞 Reflect

Think back to your first day in your latest remote role. Did it feel well organized? Hectic? Like there was nothing for you to do? 

💡 Concept

Since the first day of work for a remote employee doesn’t include meeting face-to-face with their supervisor and team members, it’s important to make sure the agenda includes clear guidelines and a structured introduction to the culture and expectations of the new team.

What does a typical workday look like for someone on your team? Design the first day of work to reflect communication protocols and work norms as much as possible. 

⌚️ Schedule First Day Communications

Schedule any first-day communications to go out at the start of your new hire’s workday. This is especially important if you work in a different time zone than your new hire.

In your messaging, include a video recording of yourself (using a tool like Loom) to add richness to your communication. 

ℹ️ Give Details

Meticulously plan the details for the expectations for your new hire’s first day. Here’s a framework to use for each assigned meeting and task: 

“You’ll do [task] with [person] at [time—including time zone] using [tool]. To prepare, review [documentation].”

📹 Balance Sync and Async Communication

You’ll want to provide enough information and opportunities to connect so your new hire will feel informed but not overwhelmed. 

One strategy for accomplishing this is to provide a mix of asynchronous communication, such as email, text, and video messaging, as well as synchronous opportunities to connect in real time via phone or video. 

🎬 Take Action

• Schedule first-day communications to go out at the start of your new hire’s workday. 

• Plan the details for the expectations for your new hire’s first day.

• Use a mix of sync and async communication to give enough information without overloading your new hire with meetings. 

• Visit the Remote Onboarding Guide to learn more about how to design a stellar remote onboarding program that makes every employee feel supported, included, informed, and empowered.

🧠 Keep Learning

Want to learn how to improve the balance of sync and async communication in your team? Take our Async at Work course!

✅ Check In

🎁Learn with your team!

Refer our weekly microlessons to your team members to learn as a group! Just follow the instructions in the section below to get started.