Great onboarding is key

Onboarding — the process by which you integrate a new hire into your business and make them a productive team member — is your crucial first step with any hire. During her first few days on the job, an employee seeks to confirm that her decision to join you was right. In fact, you are re-recruiting the minute she walks into your workplace.

You need to pay particular attention to onboarding an HR manager, because of the domino effect: she will replicate her good (or bad) experience when she hires other employees.

As your HR manager's boss, you are tasked with making her feel welcome, establishing her responsibilities and providing orientation around her new position, employees and your company's culture. Schedule time that first day to meet with her one on one to develop a personal performance plan that includes objectives, timing and communications. Do some preparation in advance. You cannot afford to leave your new HR manager's activities to chance.

There will also be anxiety among employees, so it's valuable to share your reasons for hiring an HR manager, the priorities of the role and a few details about the person you've hired. Do this in advance of her first day in the office.

The HR management role can cover a wide range of responsibilities, so it's important for the HR manager, employees and you to focus quickly on key deliverables. Otherwise, you'll waste a lot of time before your new hire starts to pay off.