Onboarding That Actually Works
About the Course
Course Description
Onboarding doesn’t end after the paperwork and the awkward team lunch. This course teaches leaders how to create onboarding experiences that build clarity, confidence, and connection from day one—so new hires aren’t left guessing, disengaged, or quietly job-hunting by week six.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, leaders will be able to:
Set clear expectations for performance, communication, and culture
Design onboarding experiences that extend beyond the first week
Establish early trust and psychological safety
Identify early warning signs of disengagement or confusion
Transition new hires from “new” to “contributing” with intention
Who This Course Is For
Managers onboarding new hires or promoted employees
Leaders inheriting teams they didn’t hire
Organizations struggling with early turnover
Who This Course Is Not For
Teams treating onboarding as a checklist exercise
Leaders who believe “they’ll figure it out”
Companies unwilling to define expectations
Course includes sample forms and documents.
Your Instructor
April Simpkins, PHR, SHRM-CP, CDP
April Simpkins is a workplace strategist, leadership consultant, and mental health advocate with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations build confident leaders and healthier workplace cultures. As the founder of Paragon Strategy Partners, she specializes in practical, human-centered leadership development for small and mid-sized businesses—bridging the gap between people management and real-world execution.
