What is buddying?
Buddying is assigning a member of staff to act as a first point of contact for a new starter while they are settling into their role. As a new manager it is important to have a first point of contact to support the practical and people management aspects of your role that may be more suitably discussed with a management colleague in the first instance.
Benefits of buddying for new staff
Assigning a buddy to a new member of staff can really make a different to the success of their induction. Having a buddy gives a new member of staff a friendly face they know they can seek support from in terms of explaining how things work and answering questions. This can help them to settle into their new role more quickly, and reduce the chance of them feeling isolated or unsupported.
Acting as a buddy also provides a good development opportunity for existing managers, giving them the chance to develop their communication skills and share their knowledge and experience.
The role of the buddy
The role of the buddy is to provide informal support and guidance to a new member of staff, which may include, but not necessarily be restricted to:
• Showing the new member of staff around the department, and also the wider organisation
• Accompanying the new member of staff for lunch on their first day
• Facilitating networking, by introducing the new member of staff to other colleagues around the team and department, or by being able to answer the question “who was that?”
• Helping the new member of staff understand any particular service area practices and activities
• Answering day-to-day questions, that may not necessarily be about the individual’s job role
• Being able to provide information and guidance in a friendly, supportive, confidential and non-judgemental manner.
The role of the buddy does not include:
• Planning the new starter’s induction
• Answering questions about contracts of employment
• Setting performance expectations and monitoring them
• Arranging training for the new member of staff.
These activities remain the responsibility of the new member of staff’s manager.
Who should be the buddy?
The buddy should be someone who is experienced in the role the new starter is undertaking, and ideally from within the same team (this will not always be possible with small teams so if that is the case try to pick somebody who will be familiar with the work of the team). The individual should be enthusiastic and engaging, and should also be trusted to be supportive to the new member of staff. They should be aware of the induction schedule for the new starter.
The buddy should be someone who works in close proximity to the new member of staff in order that they are available when the new member of staff asks any questions.
The buddy should not be the new member of staff’s line manager.
Practical considerations
It is important that the buddy’s line manager and the team manager is consulted and agreed to the buddy arrangement, to ensure that the role fits in with the demands of the buddy’s job.
The proposed buddy should be consulted about becoming a buddy, including outlining their responsibilities within the role, before they are confirmed as a buddy to the new member of staff.
The new member of staff should be introduced to their buddy on the first day.