In many organizations, traditional onboarding is often viewed as a lonely solo sprint: a new hire is given a mountain of materials to digest and a checklist of boxes to tick. At Howspace, we believe onboarding is something much more—it is a social process that builds relationships, engagement, and a sense of belonging from day one.
This article is designed to help admins plan and build an onboarding workspace that doesn't just transfer information, but welcomes new colleagues into the heart of your organization’s culture.
Why Social Onboarding?
Successful onboarding is an investment in the future. The goal is to ensure that a new employee:
Finds their place: Feels like part of the community from the very start.
Learns through interaction: Engagement and learning are born in relationships and shared experiences.
Feels psychological safety: The workspace provides a safe environment to ask questions, experiment, and grow together with others.
Building an Onboarding Workspace: 5 Tips for Admins
1. Create a Clear and Consistent Path
Organize the workspace into a logical journey (e.g., using modules or steps). This provides the new employee with a sense of control and clarity: What is expected of me, and how far along am I?
Pro Tip: Use Progress to make the journey feel manageable and inviting.
2. Prioritize Interaction Over Static Content
While manuals and courses are necessary, the "heart" of onboarding is meeting people.
Utilize discussions and commenting at every stage of the path.
Encourage new hires to share their own reflections and questions.
Make the thoughts and experiences of other new employees visible to foster a sense of "we are in this together."
3. Make Culture and Values Tangible
Onboarding is the primary place to experience an organization's values in practice. Instead of just listing values as text, create interactive exercises where the new hire can reflect on them with their peers
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4. Leverage Asynchronous Flexibility
Everyone has their own rhythm for absorbing new information. Howspace allows for onboarding regardless of time or location. Ensure the workspace offers support and resources even when a manager or mentor isn't immediately available.
5. Involve the Whole Organization
Onboarding isn't just an HR task. Bring in colleagues from different departments. This helps the new hire network broadly and receive support from various perspectives across the company.
Practical Examples for Your Workspace
Welcome Videos: Personal video greetings from the team, CEO, or People & Culture lead.
Collaborative Tasks: Ask the new employee to introduce themselves or share a "fresh eyes" observation about the company.
Remember: The technology is there to support the process—the most important thing is the human connection that happens within the workspace.