As a business owner or manager, you know how important it is to have top-notch account managers to help you retain and grow your customer base. However, bringing a new account manager on board can be a daunting task. Proper onboarding is crucial to ensure that your new hire is able to hit the ground running and make a positive impact on your business. 

Here are five steps for onboarding a new account manager:

Introduce them to (and immerse them in) your company culture and values

The first step in onboarding a new account manager is to introduce them to your company culture and values. Share your company mission statement, core values, and business philosophy will help them understand what your business stands for and how they can best represent your brand to your clients. Including them in team lunches or happy hours, or even featuring them in a ‘Get to Know…’ session, can go a long way!

Train, equip, and encourage

To ensure your new account manager can successfully sell your products and services, it is crucial for them to possess in-depth knowledge about your offerings. They should be well-versed in the features, benefits, limitations, and potential issues associated with your products and services. Your new hire should feel confident in their ability to answer customer questions and provide solutions about your products and services. Providing them with ample training, necessary assets, accounts and information, and even a go-to mentoring colleague, will help them to work efficiently and effectively from the start.

Connect them with your clients

Introducing your new account manager to your current clients is a great way to help them build relationships and understand your customers’ needs. Schedule meetings or calls with key accounts and encourage your new hire to ask questions and take notes. This will help them gain valuable insights into your clients’ needs and how your products and services can help fill them. 

Define clear goals and expectations

Setting clear goals and expectations is critical for keeping your new hire on track. Define their position, duties, and performance measures, and create achievable goals that will assist them in understanding what is expected and provide a road map to success.

Provide ongoing support, assistance and feedback

Finally, it’s important to offer your new account manager help and feedback as they navigate their new landscape. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss their progress, provide constructive feedback, and offer support as needed. This will help them feel supported and valued, and will ultimately lead to better performance and job satisfaction.

Onboarding a new account manager is a critical process that requires careful planning and execution.You can guarantee that your new recruit will be set up for success and ready to make a good impact on your organization by following these five steps and personalizing them to your individual industry and company needs.