Buddy System in Workplace
The buddy system in the workplace includes assigning existing employees as ‘buddy’ with new hires so that they won’t get overwhelmed in the initial days of joining.
Buddy system aims to create culture of guidance, collaboration and an adaptable work environment where new joiner can navigate through professional complexities with ease.
Let’s discuss buddy system in workplace in detail and get the detailed insights of-
Importance of Buddy System in Workplace
Buddy system in the workplace strengthens the foundation of new joiners at the organization. Let us understand in detail:
Onboarding
The buddy system is the unavoidable concept of hassle-free onboarding. New employees often experience challenges related to transition, breaking ice with new colleagues, understanding processes and formalities and everything else.
To guide new joiners to get through every onboarding process in a streamlined manner, buddy often becomes the familiar face to discuss challenges and understand the workplace culture.
Improved Efficiency and Productivity
Buddy system results in increasing efficiency of new candidates by guiding them through database required, documentation processes, workflows to be followed, resources to be referred and the style of working followed at workplace
Boost Employee’s Morale
New employees seek emotional support after their onboarding process so that they won’t get lost amid the processes and would consume lots of time to gear up. So, buddy system helps in fostering sense of connection, reduce feeling of seclusion and contributes to positive environment.
What are the Advantages of a Buddy System in the Workplace?
There are a number of advantages of a buddy system for new hires. Let us explore a few of them:
- Exponential learning curve
- Enhanced job satisfaction
- Minimal turnover rates
- Better communication
- Positive work culture
How does the Buddy System Work?
The buddy system works by first assigning buddy or friend to new joiner for a specified duration. In most cases, a buddy is assigned to the same department depending upon roles and responsibilities assigned to the new joiner.
During the onboarding process, buddy communicate, guide and assist the new employee in a structured way to make new joiner familiar with organisation
A buddy system ensures collaborative landscape and clear line of communication even before the new joiner enters the workplace.
How to Implement a Buddy System at Work?
To implement a buddy system at work, you must be well-verse with following attributes:
Authentic Leadership
For the successful implementation of buddy system, leaders must be supportive and motivating to introduce and keep the system intact.
Leaders must showcase their commitment to employees’ experience from the first day itself before implementing the buddy system
Initial guidelines to buddies
When you introduce any system for the first time, you make sure that all your employees are well-aware and well-trained to ensure successful implementation.
So, likewise, when you introduce buddy system, ensure that your employees know how to behave, have skillset to properly communicate and collaborate, have welcoming gestures and able to address any requirements of their counter buddy.
Regularly seek feedback from both newcomers and old employees to identify areas of improvement and make buddy system a huge success.
But, to ensure a successful buddy system, you must take care of the buddy assigned! You must understand the responsibilities and characteristics of a good buddy and train accordingly.
1.Characteristics of a good buddy
Characteristics of a good buddy includes:
- Empathy
- Effective communication skills
- Patience as a virtue
- Approachability
- Adaptability
2.Buddy responsibilities
Responsibilities of buddy include:
- Guidance and support including responding questions, offering insights of organisational culture and assisting in understanding workflows
- Advocacy that includes helping newcomers to navigate office dynamics, share experiences offer suggestions for improvement
- Onboarding support in understanding culture of company, expectation of RMS and colleagues, mission and vision of company and other necessary details
- Social integration by inviting for coffee breaks, team lunches and other informal gatherings for genuinely building relationships
When you assign buddies, make sure to request feedback from new joiners at regular intervals of time. Many times, intentions, expectations and actions don’t match, and experience of initial days might ruin.
Summing Up
In conclusion, the buddy system is a power tool for fostering connections, creating a first impression from day one, and building positive work culture.
As per the research, “After first week on the job, new hires with buddies were 23% more satisfied with their overall onboarding experience compared to those without buddies. This trend continued at 90 days (about 3 months) with a 36% increase in satisfaction. Those with buddies also reported receiving more active support from both their manager and the broader team.”
So, if you do not have a buddy system in your organisation, make sure to implement it as soon as possible and ensure a satisfactory experience for your employees from day one.