If you want your new sales reps to quickly become efficient, productive members of the team, you need to make sure they have all the tools necessary to hit the ground running the day they start.
Why would you want them wasting time waiting for IT to give them an email password or reading through the company’s insurance plan when they could be hitting the pavement with sales calls?
True, some processes such as employee orientation or training must wait until the start date. But many pesky administrative odds and ends can and should be handled as soon as the employment and confidentiality agreement is signed.
Send out benefits packages and other company materials the day a position is accepted so new team members can review, ask questions and complete documents off the clock. This saves hours of company time that is better-used for more revenue producing pursuits.
Other time and productivity killers include activating passwords, email accounts and identification badges. Get computers, laptops, cell phones and other devices set up on the company’s network and make sure mobile or remote employees can log into the system. Phone extensions and voice mail accounts should be configured and waiting for the new hire on their first day.
Taking care of these little things in advance is not only more efficient, it also lets new employees know that they are valued additions to the sales team. Most importantly, it sets the stage for them to focus on generating revenue as quickly and effectively as possible.
Kathleen,
I absolutely agree with your insight and perspective! I can’t tell you how many large corporations do employee initial set up during the work hours rather than having the employee all set up and ready to begin the moment he/she has first clocked in. This is frustrating for a new employee who has not acclimated to a new environment and takes value time away from the company and all of its stakeholders. Thank you for identifying this unnecessary issue and setting the stage to create more effective approaches for new employee processes.