In Episode 12 of From The Darkhorse's Mouth, titled "All Aboard," Dan and Carly Garzella are joined by Steven Harris, Franchise Owner at Journey Payroll & HR.

If you’re looking to turn great hires into long-term performers, this episode breaks down why onboarding is one of the most critical (and most underestimated) parts of the employee journey - and how to get it right. The conversation starts with the numbers behind onboarding: how those first days and weeks impact retention, early productivity, and overall satisfaction, and what a strong first week, month, and quarter should actually look like.

We then dive into what effective onboarding includes in practice - preboarding, a clear first-day plan, culture and values immersion, role clarity, mentors, and smooth access to tools and systems - along with the biggest pitfalls that derail new hires, like overwhelm, vague expectations, isolation in remote settings, and disorganized training. The discussion also brings in real-world examples of what “good” onboarding looks like, plus the metrics that matter most: time to productivity, 3/6/12-month retention, new-hire satisfaction, error rates, and ramp time.

Finally, we look at how technology and structure can transform onboarding from a one-time event into a repeatable, scalable system: using digital checklists, LMS content, peer mentors, and feedback loops to keep every new hire on track. We wrap with a simple, practical checklist leaders can implement right away to continuously improve their onboarding experience.

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or refining a mature process, this episode offers a clear, actionable blueprint for onboarding that builds confidence faster, embeds culture earlier, and sets your team up for long-term success.

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