What if kindness, not compliance/profit, was the foundation of onboarding?

What would it look like if kindness, not compliance or profit, were the foundation of onboarding a new employee? It would mean designing the first days and weeks not just around policies and productivity, but around human connection, trust-building, and psychological safety. Rather than overwhelming new hires with checklists and procedures, we would prioritize fostering a sense of belonging, empathy, and a warm welcome. A kindness-centered onboarding process signals from day one: You are valued here not just for what you do, but for who you are. And when employees feel seen and supported early on, they’re more engaged, more loyal, and more prepared to contribute meaningfully to the mission. Kindness doesn’t replace efficiency; it enhances it by rooting performance in care.

As always, this is a free virtual knowledge cafe, we'll follow the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe process which is an opening provocation by Dr Gumus, then 3 rounds of small group conversations, then close with a full group conversation.

See you there!

Dr. Gumus' related publication:
Gumus, K., & Cohen, R. K. (2024). Maximizing success: Onboarding & mentoring for productive, integrated employees. The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching, 8(3), 165–169. https://doi.org/10.62935/4p5cxu