What can regenerative farming teach us about integrating newbies into the workplace?
When soil isn’t great quality soil yet, its water absorption can be limited. It can start out with absorbing 1/2 inch per hour, but as Gabe Brown proves, with time and effort, it can go upto 10 inches per hour.
Again, what am I getting at?
When newbies hit the floor, there is a cap on how much they will absorb. Some take notes (nowadays audio notes too), others practice, some believe that they will learn or get a mentor. How do you ensure that their knowledge infiltration rate becomes better and better every day?
Ensure that they always have work to do. No, don't kill them with work, but they need to be comfortably stretched at all times. Some might resent being used for work that is below their intelligence level - even better. It builds humility and respect for others. Basics are classics.
Get them to adhere to a routine. The routine builds discipline, they know beforehand what’s expected of them and they get better with managing business as usual. Eventually as that becomes commonplace for them, they start grasping the more complicated aspects of working.
Strive for diversity. Every-time you meet someone new, you learn something new. Similarity always compromises on originality. Build an ecosystem that promotes and nurtures diversity. Inspire the newbies in the system to learn from one another. This not only makes learning interesting and innovative, it also improves the overall health of the organisation’s collective intellectual and cultural abilities.
Maintain a living learning system. Build strong learning communities for newbies entering the system. Create systemised L&D structures for them. Communities with shared learning goals help build meaningful connections, feel belonged and feel safe. By being a part of it, employees develop a sense of sharing and finding value in what they do.
Integrate them cross functionally. I am not asking to confuse them. I am saying make them strong. A 1-day or 2-days induction never helps. Let them rotate across functions and roles for them to realise where their strength lies. Struggle helps build stronger neural system. Give them the field to try, struggle, understand and solve problems.
A strong foundation makes it a little easier to face storms and blizzards. It’s the same with an organisation and its people. All I am suggesting here is build resilience – the power to fight back in times of stress and in times of crisis.
Prepare them to work hard, to learn and to share. Building resilience is building hope.
In the current monsoon, which is a very gentle one, with small amounts of rain spread over weeks, soil is given the chance to absorb slowly. Therefore, run-off and soil erosion have been minimal.
The same applies to the newbies in a similar environment. Given enough time, resources and a healthy environment, they will absorb and internalise knowledge and culture.
Once that happens, they will have built a solid foundation, strong enough to handle themselves and the organisation in stressful or difficult times.
