There’s a moment—whether you’re stepping into a new job or a new room—where everything feels uncertain.
Will I fit in?
Will I figure this out?
Will this be worth it?
I’ve been thinking about that moment a lot lately—both as a leader and just… as a person trying to do life well. This week’s newsletter touches on both. One part: how to welcome new people into a team. The other: how to welcome yourself fully into the spaces you’re already in. Let’s dive in.
LEADERSHIP: Onboarding is a Culture Builder
I’m a sucker for onboarding.
I love crafting the ideal first few weeks for new team members—the welcome, the intentional experience, the “you belong here” moments.
Sure, it always seems to happen during your vacation week.
Or when the new software launches.
Or the one person who knows how to train is out sick.
And yes—it takes time.
But I still love it.
Because that window—those first two to four weeks—is when people are the most impressionable. It’s when they decide:
“Am I just doing a job, or do I want to invest and build a career here?”
If someone feels invested in, they’re far more likely to invest back.
That’s why I approach onboarding in three parts:
- People – Who do they need to meet? Who should they build relationships with early? Who will make them feel included? And who do they need to connect with to be successful? (Let’s be honest—many parts of life are about who you know and who likes you.)
- Process – What written and unwritten rules or team philosophies do they need to understand? I even created a “How We Lead” deck—outside of HR—to show who we are. Sure, they get the SOPs (standard operating procedures), but they also get the nuts and bolts of our culture… the behaviors, the unspoken rules, and the beliefs that shape our team.
- Technology – Do they have the tools and access they need? Nothing crushes momentum like realizing months in that someone never got added to the right folder or doesn’t even have the ability to do their job.
People want to feel like they belong.
Like they know what they’re doing.
Like they have the chance to become great at it.
Onboarding can do that.
And when it’s done well, it’s not just helpful.
It’s magnetic.
What’s one small way you could enhance your onboarding experience?
It could be as simple as coffee during their first week.
Or a handwritten note on their desk.
(If they’re remote, drop one in the mail—small things still matter.)
LIFE: The Inner Circle Illusion
Recently, I went to a networking event hosted by a friend. But this wasn’t your typical schmooze-and-swap-business-cards kind of thing.
Her goal was simple: help people feel a sense of belonging.
She opened with something I can’t stop thinking about:
“Every little part of us—the kid in us—wants to be picked first for kickball. We never want to be the last one standing.”
We want to feel included.
Chosen.
Like we’re part of the “inner circle.”
But here’s the kicker:
There’s always another inner circle.
A group you weren’t in.
An invite you didn’t get.
A room you’re not sure you’re ready for.
And that chase? It can make you shrink.
Second guess.
Hold back.
But what if we stopped chasing and started trusting?
These words sort of blew me away (okay, maybe I’m being dramatic—but it’s true).
In the back of my mind, I’m always feeling a little bit of fear that I’m “not like them”… or maybe even “too much” for some people.
But what if the version of you right now—flawed, fantastic, figuring it out—is already enough to belong?
What if you don’t have to chase it?
What if the people around you are your circle?
And what if the new spaces you’re drawn to don’t require a new you—just a braver one?
You can be exactly who you are and still belong.
That’s not fluff. That feels like freedom.
So here’s your reminder (and mine):
You don’t have to wait for an invite to matter.
You already do.
You give yourself the permission, the confidence, and the belief that you are in the inner circle. The world picks you.
Forward this to a leader who’s onboarding someone new—or someone who needs a reminder that they belong exactly as they are. Or just hit reply—I’d love to hear what this brought up for you.
Out there happening to the world,
Lisa
P.S. Hit reply anytime to share your stories, ask questions, or celebrate your latest win—I’d love to hear from you!