Companies like to hire from within.

It helps provide incentives for workers, and it keeps a lot more of a consistent result in terms of the community of people who come together to support a business. But it also requires that the company help an individual transition from one role to another.

So how do you help to minimize the disruption of someone moving up in a business? Here are some ways to make sure that these transitions go well, for the individual who has to step into a new role, and for the enterprise as a whole.

Orientation and Training

Don’t skip key orientation and training measures just because someone is already on board. Yes, you can skip training that has to do with the business as a whole, because that person has seen that before. But when it comes to training for the job role in question, have that person network with the person who used to do the job, and provide other kinds of key support so that there are fewer questions when it comes time for that person to step into his or her new job.

Define the Transitions

In some kinds of situations, there may be some ambiguity about a career change. Somebody may still feel closer to their old department than their new one, or they may get stuck trying to field questions from people at their old department, about what they used to be doing. Try to minimize this by making the timeline very clear for the transition, and isolating that person from what they did in their old job when they assume the new role.

Bring Supportive Team Approaches to Departments

It’s also helpful if the person who is changing job roles is not coming into an “office of one” — or in other words, if there are other people who also have some of the information that person needs in order to get a new job going. When the business relies too much on one individual for management, things can get difficult. Instead, bring a group approach to the work of a particular office, to make sure that there’s a kind of organic cooperation in place, so that transitions go more smoothly.

Don’t Skip the Check Ins

In the weeks following a transition, make it a priority to circle back and hear about how things are going. Sometimes, a brief meeting can be all it takes to cure a few of the hiccups that may be normal with one of these staff changes.

For more on all kinds of workplace situations, keep an eye on Full Steam Staffing as we talk about what’s important in today’s business world. We help our Ontario, California clients to really succeed, with staffing services and other kinds of consultative provisions. Let us help to take your business to the next level and prepare for the road ahead.