6 Psychology Principles to Improve Employee Onboarding

6 Actionable Psychology Principles to Improve Employee Onboarding

The six principles of persuasion here originated in Dr. Robert B. Cialdini's book titled Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. By combining Dr. Cialdini's work with knowledge about the discipline of onboarding, simple and actionable ways to incorporate these principles into your onboarding process have been created.

1. Reciprocity

If you give something to someone, it's highly likely this gesture will be reciprocated. Companies that exceed employee expectations are more likely to have employees that want to do the same. The small cost of cake and balloons on a new hire's first day has the potential to become a worthy investment.

2. Scarcity

If people feel seen, valued, and special they will do more for the company. Mentioning how many people applied for their job is one way of pointing out to employees that they are special and a cut above the rest.

3. Authority

People want to comply with those that have authority. A personal welcome video from the CEO to each new employee is far more impactful than reading the same in a generic e-mail. This video can set the expectations, share the company mission, and explain the culture with far more persuasive power.

4. Consistency

People want to follow through with their own commitments. One recent study found that "an 18% reduction in missed appointments at health centers" occurred simply by asking patients to write down appointment details. Communicating by presenting choices is a strategic way to train employees to apply logical and rational behaviors while empowering them as individuals.

5. Liking

People prefer to say yes to people they like, respect, and admire. Creating a workforce that likes their employer starts with a WOW first impression and welcome. Liking will come naturally with an excellent onboarding process.

6. Consensus/Social Proof

When people feel uncertain about something they look to others. Companies should use statistics and data or personal stories from the best-in-class parts of the organization to set the standard. Sharing positive client stories is another helpful way of showing social proof.

The Role of Technology to Improve Employee Onboarding

All of these same principles that persuade and motivate employees can be set into action with onboarding software. The right software solution gets everyone engaged in the process, and it also saves time on repetitive tasks with automation.