Onboarding UOnboarding University, a Success Model
It’s like playing golf, but without ever hitting a bad shot
Often in our culture we draw on sports as a model for our business organizations. The sports model reinforces many success factors: teamwork, commitment to goals, preparation, continuing to improve personal skills, perseverance, and more. In creating the Onboarding University, the sport of golf provided inspiration as the model.
Similar to a new leadership situation, every golf course is different. Each course presents varying degrees of difficulty that challenge a player: trees; ponds, lakes and oceans; hills and ravines; rock formations; well-placed areas of sand (called sand traps); and boundaries of tall grass all test a golfer’s skills. To deal with these obstacles and achieve some level of success, a golfer is given a number of important aids:
- A map of the course showing its layout and hazards (e.g., a lake hidden from the golfer’s view by a stand of tall trees), and indicating the correct route to take in playing the 18 holes that are spread across acres of landscape.
- An assortment of clubs, each one a specialized tool to deal with a different situation and challenge.
- A playing partner, whether another experienced golfer who has played the course and knows its challenges, or a professional paid to provide expert coaching.
Even with all of the above aids, a golfer cannot succeed without being shown and then practicing critical skills. Yes, the map can show that there is a water hazard that must be hit over. The coach can suggest which club will provide the right loft and distance for the required shot. But, the golfer still has to execute a skillful swing to have the club do its job.
There you have it --the model for Onboarding University:
- A detailed map of the Onboarding Process
- An assortment of specialized leadership tools
- A partner in both your new boss and built-in expert coaching
- A comprehensive curriculum of specialized leadership skills that allows for practice and real-life use of skills critical to success
It is a leadership development approach like no other.
Contact a PowerStart Onboarding Consultant for more information.Quick Navigation
