The Challenge
Onboarding is crucial to helping a new employee feel connected and engaged
Traditional onboarding focuses on responsibilities, rules, policies, and systems. While these are important, onboarding is also a key opportunity to build self-awareness and connection.
New employees need to understand:
How their personality, work style, and behavioral tendencies will shape their success.
Where challenges may arise.
How their new manager and team typically work and interact.
The Solution
Core Drivers as a common language for connection
Core Drivers can be used to guide meaningful discussions about strengths, risks, and development. It gives managers and employees a framework for understanding how to work together effectively and how the new hire fits within the team culture.
Plan of Action
Step 1: Understand Their Core Drivers Profile and Debrief Results
Review the new hire’s User Report to understand their Drivers, Risks, Sub-Drivers, and how these traits affect teamwork, leadership, and decision-making.
Use the Coaching Report to structure your debrief with targeted questions and tips.
Revisit our guide on helping direct reports understand their Core Drivers for best practices.
Ask thoughtful questions to connect their profile with their new role, such as:
Which parts of your role do you expect to excel at right away?
What challenges do you anticipate?
What types of tasks energize or drain you?
How do you like to communicate and receive feedback?
What are your sources of stress, and how do you manage them?
What support do you need from me?
What are your personal or professional goals for the next 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years?
Step 2: Share More About Yourself and the Team
Share your own Core Drivers so the new hire understands your leadership style and communication preferences.
Share the Team Dynamics Report to introduce them to the team’s culture, norms, strengths, and challenges.
Discuss how their Drivers align with—or differ from—the team’s profile. Highlight new strengths they bring and potential challenges they may face.
Step 3: Ask them to complete their Dynamo Learning Goals
After completing Core Drivers, every user can choose from a set of developmental goals aligned with their Core Drivers. These goals are designed to strengthen their professional capabilities, improve teamwork, and expand leadership skills.
For each goal, they’ll receive six activity cards. Each card includes coaching advice and suggested activities to help you achieve your goal.
Encourage new hires to work through their goals as part of onboarding to help them reflect on their strengths, gaps, and growth opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Effective onboarding improves engagement, performance, and retention. By using Core Drivers, you can go beyond standard orientation and create a personalized, insightful experience that helps new hires feel understood, connected, and motivated to succeed.