The Make-or-Break Moment Every Manager Faces
You’ve just hired someone great. They’re excited, you’re excited, and everyone’s ready for them to hit the ground running. But here’s the reality: 89% of new hire failures happen because of poor onboarding, not lack of skills.
That first “hello” sets the tone for everything that follows. Get it right, and you’ll have an engaged, productive team member. Get it wrong, and you’ll be back to hiring again in a few months.
What Makes Onboarding Actually Work
Most managers wing it. They introduce the new hire around, show them where the coffee is, and hope for the best. But the managers who consistently turn new hires into top performers? They have a system.
This worksheet gives you that system. This proven framework takes your new hire from first-day uncertainty to confident contribution.
The Manager's Worksheet for New-Hire Onboarding
What’s Inside the Worksheet
The Lead Up
Clear instructions in the lead up to the first day, don’t be caught unprepared!
First Week Essentials
The critical tasks that must happen in week one to set them up for long-term success (miss these and you’re playing catch-up).
Team Integration Framework
How to introduce them to the right people at the right time, building the relationships they need to thrive.
Progress Tracking Tools
Simple templates to monitor their development and catch potential issues before they become problems.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Remote and hybrid work has made onboarding harder. New hires can’t just absorb company culture by osmosis anymore. They need intentional guidance, clear expectations, and structured support.
The cost of getting this wrong? The average cost to replace an employee is 213% of their annual salary for highly skilled positions.
When you use this worksheet, you’re not just helping one person, you’re building a reputation as the manager people want to work for. The one who sets people up to win.
