New Employees Have Interesting Insights

Summary

• When a new employee joins, there is a brief "golden hour" where they can provide fresh insights before getting accustomed to the company’s usual methods.
• Intelligent hires will have valuable insights in the initial weeks because they see things without the bias of "this is how it’s always done.”
• Within one or two weeks, new employees will start assimilating and may lose their fresh perspective.
• Use this period as a free consultation opportunity to make improvements, leveraging their outside perspective before they conform to the status quo.

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How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing the "golden hour" strategy to leverage new employees' fresh perspectives. Here's how to do it:

Action Steps for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs:

1. Create a Feedback Loop:

   • First Week: When a new hire starts, ask them to observe and take notes on everything—policies, processes, and workflows.
   • End of First Week: Schedule a meeting to gather their insights and suggestions. Make sure they feel comfortable sharing their observations, reinforcing that their fresh perspective is highly valued.

2. Regular Check-Ins:

   • Daily Stand-Ups: Encourage daily stand-up meetings where new employees can voice any immediate thoughts or questions.
   • Mid-Week Review: Have a mid-week informal check-in to discuss any new observations they might have.

3. Specific Questions:

   • Ask targeted questions like, "What processes seem inefficient?" or "What confuses you the most about how we operate?"
   • Encourage detailed feedback on customer interactions, marketing strategies, and internal processes.

4. Implement Suggestions:

   • Quick Wins: Identify suggestions that are easy and inexpensive to implement. These can usually be done immediately with minimal disruption.
   • Evaluate Larger Changes: For bigger insights, assess feasibility and plan implementation steps. Make a timeline for these changes.

Action Steps for Personal Growth:

1. Seek Fresh Perspectives:

   • Regularly ask friends or mentors to review your habits and routines. Their outsider perspective can reveal areas you might not notice.
   • If you’re starting a new hobby or learning a new skill, get feedback early on from someone experienced.

2. Continuous Improvement:

   • Use personal reflection or journaling to document what new insights you’ve gathered. Schedule a weekly review to look at these notes and identify actionable steps.

By harnessing the fresh perspectives of new hires or seeking outsider input regularly, you can make meaningful improvements without a significant investment of time or money.