Explain their first steps

Although it is not essential, it really helps if you can get through to the end of their first steps during the on-boarding session in which you registered your new team member. That way, they will see the value and extent of the system in their first week.

Also, you can show (those that are ready) how to start discussing network building with some carefully selected contacts.

There is a lot to cover in this first 45-minute on-boarding session. So you'll need to move quickly to get it done.

Following are the First Steps you’ll need to guide your new member through:

1. Review the Builder’s Menu.
2. Understand the purpose of the Syllabus
3. Learn how to find what you are looking for.
4. How to work with your Connector.
5. Set up a recurring calendar event for your weekly on-boarding session.
6. Set up a recurring calendar entry for our weekly workshop.
7. Explain how to download a Collaborators+ Workbook.
8. Explain how to work with the Fellow Collaborators sheet.
9. Explain how to access the Workshop Podcasts.
10. Explain how to use “Questions for your Connector”.
11. Explain their Homework.

Let’s go through each of these steps in sequence:

Step 1 - review the builder’s menu..

Show your new team member how to access the Builders Menu from the top right of their screen when they visit our website.

There are many options in the Builder’s menu. Most are self-explanatory. However, it is essential to highlight the following:

First, the options they can use to manage their membership - especially the “cancel your membership” option. The best way to explain this is to ask them to imagine they are on-boarding a member into their team. They want that person to know how to cancel should the need arise.

The next thing to point out is the Workshops menu option.
Show how this takes them to the Workshop grid and how they can easily access any workshop.
This is particularly useful after they have attended one of our workshop sessions.
Our workshop break-out sessions are interactive. Consequently, the facilitator may not have time to cover everything or may do so in their unique way. So, it’s great for your new member to see and hear the “official” version of that workshop.

Finally, ask them to select “What’s On” from the Builders menu and give them a quick overview of how this works. Point out that all the instructions on booking their guests into a CC intro session are contained in this menu option. Also, point out that all events are shown for the time zone where the person is currently logged in..

Step 2 - Understand the purpose of the Syllabus..
The syllabus contains an abundance of very useful information.
However, we believe the best way to learn is to take action while you are learning.
Therefore, point out that your new builder should not feel the need to know the entire syllabus before inviting their first person!..

Step 3 - Learn how to find what you are looking for..

One of the best ways for your new member to learn is to ask you during one of your weekly on-boarding sessions. To facilitate this, show them how they can use the “Questions for your Connector” section of our LMS.

Also, point out how powerful and easy it is to use the search facility available in the Syllabus and the Workshop grids. This is a great way to find things and have many of their questions answered.

As a last resort, point out that your new member can send an email to admin@connectcollaborative-dot-com. Ensure that they understand communications go to dot-com, not dot-net!..

Step 4 - Learn how to work with your Connector..

Re-iterate that your new team member’s goal is to build their own team. As such, they will want their team members to value and respect their time.

When someone is easy to work with, it’s easy to go out of your way to help them. And of course, the opposite applies when dealing with people who are “high maintenance”.

The message here is that your new team member should work with you in the same way they will want their team to work with them..

Step 5 - Set up a weekly on-boarding session..

You need to agree on a 45-minute time slot that will work for you to catch up with your new team member. Bear in mind that, in due course, you will most likely be using this same time slot to on-board one or more members of your new member’s team. In other words, you can make much more efficient use of your time when you are working in a group. Working with a group also has many advantages, such as reinforcing the basic steps and building team spirit..

Step 6 - Put the Workshop into your calendar..

Promote the importance and value of the workshops as something they won’t want to miss.
This is a place where they meet many other great people and learn how to develop their network-building skills.

Explain that at their first workshop, the workshop facilitator will introduce them to others in that Workshop.

Explain that we have progressive small learning groups each week except for the first workshop of the month, where we devote the entire time to networking and meeting others.

Explain the importance of progressing through the learning session in sequence rather than cherry-picking the sessions they think they'd like to attend. Each workshop builds on the knowledge acquired in the prior workshops.

Explain that the Zoom link for the Workshop is always the same. It can be obtained from the “What’s On” calendar, and they can also find it in the welcome email they received after registering..
Step 7 - Explain how to download a Collaborators+ Workbook..

Help your new member download a Collaborators+ Workbook using the menu option: Create a new Collaborators+ Workbook.

Show them:.

1. How to change the name of this workbook to their name.
2. Bookmark the sheet so it can be easily found in your next on-boarding session.
3. How to share the workbook with you.

Explain that there are many sheets in this Workbook and that in this session, you will only have time to go through the Fellow Collaborators sheet..

Step 8 - Explain how to work with the Fellow Collaborators sheet..

1. Show them how the instructions (and troubleshooting) can be accessed by hovering over cell A1.
2. Show them how to hover over cell A3 and click “allow access”.
3. Roughly explain the following:.

A. All information in this list is pulled from the member’s database. Therefore they mustn’t try to update their details in the sheet. Instead, the information displayed in the Fellow Collaborators list must be entered on their CC profile using the option in the Builders menu entitled: Update your profile.

B. How to use the search facility by typing into cell E2 at the top of the sheet. This cell is highlighted in yellow. Demonstrate how they can enter a location (such as Perth) and how all the collaborators in Perth will then be displayed. They can do the same thing with industries and names.

C. Show them how they can access a collaborators profile by clicking the link in Column F. Explain that they are likely to get much better results if they ask for a facilitated introduction through their connector.

Step 9 - Access the Workshop Podcasts..

Explain that all the Workshop Podcasts can be accessed from the Builder’s menu. Listening to podcasts is very valuable to reinforce what was covered in a workshop they attended, to cover material that the facilitator did not cover due to time constraints, and to prepare for the next Workshop.

Step 10 - Explain how they can leave questions for their Connector..

Step 11 - Give an overview of their homework..

Giving an overview of their homework is very important for several reasons. In particular, the quizzes and materials help reinforce why they should put in the effort to build their network.

Explain that there is a lot to cover in their first onboarding session. However, it is crucial to leave enough time to show them their homework so that they know what to work on between now and your next onboarding session.

Their homework does not have to be done in a week. However, it’s great if they can make a start on it during the week before their next onboarding session.

Their homework consists of the following:
1. Completing a Quiz about what is important to them. Quickly show them through this.
2. Recording their thoughts about their personal goals after listening to the video on End Goals vs Means goals by Vishen Lakhliani.
3. Recording their thoughts after watching the Go-Giver video by Bob Burg.
4. Recording their thoughts after watching the video “What’s the secret to great opportunities?” by Tanya Menon.
5. Completing a quiz about how network building can help them. Point out that it may be best to do this quiz with them during your next onboarding session.
6. Learning how to find information and have their questions answered.
7. Learning the Jargon we use in the CC.
8. Learning how to work with their connector.
9. Revisiting their vision for their life and how building their network may assist them to shape what is possible for them.
10. Gaining clarity around the value of building their team of team building advocates. This section helps to clarify the difference between 1, 2 and 3-dimensional networking.
11. How they can record questions they may have for their connector while they think of them.

There is a lot to go through in your first onboarding session. It is ideal if you can touch on all these points. However, there is no problem if some of it needs to be left until your next session.