BGCA’s Senior Director of YD Learning Development Lesa Sexton is back with timely tips for making sure new staff are ready for the new school year.
A new school year is just around the corner, or already here if you are in the South, and you know what that means: new employee onboarding!
A strong Club experience starts with a strong staff experience, and a strong staff experience begins on Day One. While onboarding is often thought of as paperwork, policies, and first-day logistics, effective onboarding is much more than that. It’s the foundation for helping new employees feel confident, connected, and prepared to succeed in their roles.
Onboarding is about setting clear expectations, building the role-specific knowledge and skills needed for success, providing structured learning opportunities and ongoing coaching, and helping staff develop meaningful connections with colleagues. When done well, onboarding can improve confidence, engagement, and retention while ensuring staff are prepared to create high-quality experiences for young people.
As you prepare to welcome new team members, keep these four tips in mind:
Beware the Onboarding Firehose
We have a tendency to want to cover everything during onboarding because it feels like our one opportunity to communicate all of the important information. But this just leaves new staff feeling like they’re drinking from a firehose.
When people are overwhelmed with information, it’s difficult to process, retain, and apply what they’ve learned. While it may feel efficient to cram everything into a day or two, it’s unlikely that staff will remember most of it once they’re in front of members.
Instead, think of onboarding as a journey rather than an event. Create a scaffolded experience that spaces learning over time and prioritizes what staff need to know immediately versus what can be introduced later. This approach reduces cognitive overload, increases knowledge retention, and gives staff opportunities to put their learning into practice before moving on to the next concept.
Practice Makes Perfect
Learning doesn’t just happen through training sessions or microlearning modules. While those are important pieces of onboarding, staff also need opportunities to observe, practice, receive feedback, and build confidence over time.
For some employees, this may be their first experience working in youth development. They need opportunities to see what high-quality practice looks like in action before they are expected to do it themselves.
This is where job shadowing comes into play. Provide multiple opportunities for new staff to observe experienced team members and then set aside time for discussion and reflection. What staff practices did they notice? How did those practices impact youth engagement? What questions do they have about what they observed? What support do they need to apply those strategies themselves?
Consider having new staff shadow multiple employees so they can experience different facilitation styles and approaches. Then, create scaffolded opportunities for them to lead activities alongside an experienced staff member before doing it by themselves.
Another promising practice is assigning a peer buddy during onboarding. Having a go-to person who can answer questions, offer encouragement, and help navigate day-to-day challenges can make a significant difference in helping new staff feel supported. When possible, consider recognizing these peer mentors with a stipend, small gift, or shoutout to show appreciation for their willingness to take on this additional responsibility.
Don’t Leave ’em Hanging!
Once new employees arrive at their Club, the onboarding process isn’t over.
It’s easy to assume that everything is running smoothly once staff have completed orientation and settled into their sites, but the first few weeks are often filled with questions, challenges, and uncertainties. Regular check-ins provide an opportunity to address concerns early and ensure staff have the support they need to thrive.
These conversations don’t need to be lengthy or formal. A quick check-in can help uncover obstacles, clarify expectations, and identify additional coaching opportunities. They also communicate an important message: we care about your success and want to support you.
It’s the Little Things
Starting a new job can be exciting, but it can also be intimidating. You’re entering a new environment with unfamiliar routines and people you don’t know. Small gestures can go a long way in helping new staff feel welcome and easing the transition. What do I mean by the little things?
- Send an email introducing the new staff member and welcoming them to the organization. Ask them to share a short bio and a few fun facts so other staff have natural conversation starters.
- Provide a detailed guide to their first day. Where should they park? How do they access the building? Who should they ask for when they arrive? Is there a place to store personal belongings? What should they bring?
- Create opportunities for new staff to meet leadership and connect with peers. Building relationships early helps staff develop a sense of belonging and creates a support network they can turn to when needed.
- Make their first day feel special! A welcome bag with Club swag, coffee or lunch, or a handwritten note expressing your excitement about having them join the team are thoughtful touches that make an impression.
These small acts don’t take much time or money, but they can have a significant impact on how welcomed and valued a new staff member feels.
Effective onboarding isn’t about checking boxes or getting through a list of required trainings. It’s about creating an experience that helps new staff feel welcomed, supported, and prepared to succeed.
When staff receive the right information at the right time, have opportunities to observe and practice, receive ongoing support, and feel a sense of belonging, they’re more likely to feel confident in their roles and connected to the organization. And when staff thrive, young people thrive too.
As you gear up for a new school year, remember that a strong onboarding experience makes a difference and can set the stage for stronger staff retention, higher-quality programming, and more meaningful experiences for the youth we serve.
For more, Boys & Girls Club staff can download the new Culture of Learning and Development Guide and the Hosting a Training Guide now on BGCA.net.
What’s in your Club’s onboarding? How do you support a culture of learning? Comment below, on the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email ClubXBlog@bgca.org.
