How to train new employees on technical work without repeating yourself
Standardizing onboarding is difficult because variables in projects make it impossible to train someone on everything at the start, leaving them to rely on asking whoever is around. This leads to managers answering the same repeat questions over and over instead of having a centralized, written reference like an SOP.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Creating written standard operating procedure checklists
- 2Recording short Loom-style videos explaining repetitive tasks
- 3Using markdown files in an internal GitHub repository
- 4Cloning project checklists so team members can update them on the fly
- 5writing answers and processes down in word documents or standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- 6recording videos using tools like Loom to automatically create SOP references
- 7building an internal knowledge base where employees can search for answers
- 8relying on basic initial training and having employees learn on the go as variables arise
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I've been working with wordpress for awhile now, and I've gotten to the point where I could use extra hands. Every business uses SOP'S to standardize the work for on boarding.”source ↗
“Rather than walking someone through the process of learning and building alongside them, I opted for a more hands off approach.”source ↗
“Curious how other small business owners/managers deal with this — when a new employee has a question, where do they actually go? Is everything written down somewhere, or do they mostly just ask whoever's around?”source ↗
“is there a question you feel like you've answered a hundred times to different employees over the years? How do you usually handle repeat questions like that — do you write it down after the first time, or does it just stay something people ask?”source ↗
“there’s so many variables with what people can bring in that it’s impossible to train someone on everything. You get the basics at the beginning and learn more and more as you go.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why do I have to train my new manager?
- 3How to teach students how to fill out Scantron forms
- 2How to speed up or bypass mandatory compliance training videos
- 2How to handle a new teacher who is trying to take over
- 4Is it normal to have no training or supervision on a new job?
- 12How do I know if my new puppy is getting enough exercise?