The Daily Stat: Don't Make New Hires Conform; Instead, Focus on Their Individual Strengths

 

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser.

July 18, 2013 Don't Make New Hires Conform; Instead, Focus on Their Individual Strengths Newly hired employees of an Indian call center were at least 60% less likely to leave within a period of a few months if they went through an onboarding process that, instead of emphasizing conformity, focused on their individual strengths, for example by highlighting what was "unique" about them, says a team led by Daniel M. Cable of London Business School. In a related lab experiment, new hires whose individual strengths were highlighted ended up performing more efficiently and making fewer errors. Thus the best way for an organization to develop early organizational commitment may be to encourage employees to make daily use of their unique strengths, the researchers say. SOURCE: Breaking Them in or Eliciting Their Best? Reframing Socialization around Newcomers' Authentic Self-expression

PREVIOUS STATS Narcissistic CEOs Take Bold Action When There's an Appreciative Audience Empowered Teams Get a Slow Start, But Soon Zoom Ahead Hard Times May Make You More Likely to Gamble Away Your Money What Would You Do Differently If You Could See Yourself 20 Years Older? Smaller, More-Homogeneous Research Groups Are More Productive per Researcher Do You Work Until You've Earned Enough, or Until You're Just Too Tired to Work More?

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT The First 90 Days App for iPhone and Android MAKE YOUR NEXT CAREER TRANSITION A SUCCESS. Download The First 90 Days App today to help you stay ahead of the game. Download on the App Store » Download on Google Play »

FEATURED PRODUCT Financial Intelligence Collection: Savvy Advice for Managers Looking to Increase Their Knowledge, Confidence, and Impact (4th Edition) Special Collections The Financial Intelligence Collection gives managers mastery of the financial basics they need to plan, budget, forecast, and control resources with confidence. It will enable you to mine every bit of meaning from the financial reports that cross your desk, to employ financial techniques that can multiply your effectiveness, and to foresee business opportunities that remain invisible to others. If you're not a "numbers person," this is the perfect way to learn what you've always needed to know. Buy It Now

ADVERTISEMENT

HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | BLOGS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)