In this episode, Karen Kirton is joined by David Larter from Send Jolly to explore how to build emotional connection through onboarding. While process and systems are important, making new hires feel safe, welcome, and inspired from day one can significantly impact retention, engagement, and productivity. David shares stories and insights from his own onboarding experiences—both good and bad—and outlines what works when it comes to emotionally engaging new starters.

In today’s episode, you will learn:

• The emotional state of new hires – Why nervousness, anxiety, and excitement all play a role in onboarding, and how to address each one.
• Creating a sense of security – How providing structure, clarity, and a “map” of the onboarding journey helps ease uncertainty.
• Fostering human connection – Practical ideas like buddy systems, pre-start LinkedIn connections, and team welcomes that build belonging early.
• Communicating purpose from day one – Why sharing your mission and showing new hires how they contribute increases emotional buy-in.
• Pre-boarding strategies – How the interview process and candidate experience shape the emotional connection before day one even arrives.

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