Onboarding new team members is never as simple as you'd like—especially when there's a new tool in the mix. If you're here, you're probably managing a sales or SDR team and just rolled out Orum. Or maybe you're about to. Either way, you want your new folks to actually use Orum well, not just click around and hope for the best. This guide is for you: managers, trainers, or whoever got stuck with the job of making sure this tool actually gets used right.
Let's skip the buzzwords and get into what really works, what to watch out for, and exactly how to set your people up so Orum becomes a booster, not a bottleneck.
1. Get Your House in Order Before Day One
If someone shows up and their login doesn't work, you've already lost points. Before you even think about training, get the basics squared away:
- Accounts created: Make sure every new hire has an Orum login waiting for them.
- Integrations checked: Is Orum hooked up to your CRM, dialer, or data sources? Test it yourself.
- Permission levels: Don't give everyone admin rights, but don't over-restrict either. Think about what each new person actually needs.
- Test everything: Log in as a new user and try to do some basic flows. If something’s broken, fix it now.
Pro tip: Keep a simple onboarding checklist in a shared doc. Update it often, or you’ll forget what’s missing next time.
2. Set Expectations Early (and Repeat Yourself)
People need to know why you’re using Orum, what you expect, and what success looks like. Don’t be vague—spell it out.
- Explain the 'why': Orum isn’t just a new toy. It’s there to help your team make more calls, faster, and track what’s working.
- What “using it well” means: Is it about call volume? Logging notes? Using certain features? Be specific.
- Tie it to your process: Show how Orum fits with your existing workflows (like how calls get logged to the CRM).
- Be honest: If Orum has quirks or things that drive you nuts, say so. People respect honesty, and it lowers the learning curve.
3. Give a Real, Live Demo (Skip the Slide Decks)
People learn by seeing, not by reading a manual or watching a 10-minute product video. Do a live walkthrough, warts and all.
- Go through a real use case: Make some dials, handle a connect, log a call, and show how to disposition.
- Show mistakes: Try “accidentally” clicking the wrong thing and fix it in real-time. This helps new folks feel less nervous about breaking things.
- Encourage questions: Pause often and ask, “Does this make sense?” or “What looks confusing here?”
- Record it: If your team is remote or distributed, record your session for future hires.
What to skip: Don’t waste time on features you never use. Focus on what matters for your team’s day-to-day.
4. Get Hands-On Fast: Practice Beats Theory
Nobody gets good at Orum by sitting through another training meeting. Build in time for real practice—ideally, on day one.
- Sandbox time: Set up a test account or safe list so new hires can play without fear of messing up real data.
- Assign simple tasks: E.g., “Make three dials, disposition calls, leave a note, and log it to the CRM.”
- Buddy system: Pair newbies with someone who knows Orum well. Quick Slack questions are less intimidating than bugging the boss.
- Gamify (lightly): If it fits your team, set up a friendly challenge—who can make the most dials or get through the process fastest (correctly).
Watch out for: People pretending to “get it” but clearly lost. Quiet folks might need a nudge to ask for help.
5. Tackle Common Roadblocks Head-On
Every tool has sticking points. Don’t wait for them to bite you—call them out early.
- Connection issues: Orum depends on stable internet and good audio gear. If someone’s using hotel WiFi or a $5 headset, expect problems.
- CRM sync errors: These happen, especially if your CRM is a mess. Have a “what to do when it breaks” cheat sheet handy.
- Call dispositions confusion: Orum’s terms might not match your team’s lingo. Create a translation chart if you need to.
- Browser quirks: Some browsers play nicer with Orum than others. Recommend specific browsers and settings.
Pro tip: Keep a running FAQ doc updated with every oddball problem you hit. Your future self will thank you.
6. Make Help Easy to Find (and Actually Useful)
No one wants to dig through a corporate wiki for one answer. Organize your resources so people can get unstuck fast.
- Pin important links: Keep a short list of go-to docs (yours and Orum’s) in Slack, Teams, or wherever your team lives.
- Create a “first week” cheat sheet: Include the top 5-10 things new users mess up, and how to fix them.
- Encourage peer support: Build a culture where people help each other before escalating every issue to you.
- Know when to escalate: Sometimes you’ll hit a true bug. Know how to reach Orum support and what info they need.
7. Reinforce with Real Feedback (Not Just Reports)
Don’t assume everyone’s using Orum just because the dashboard says so. People find creative ways to avoid new tools if they can.
- Spot-check usage: Sit with new hires (in-person or virtually) while they use Orum. Look for hesitation or workarounds.
- Ask for honest feedback: What’s confusing? What’s slowing them down? Don’t punish people for saying what’s broken.
- Share quick wins: If someone figures out a trick or shortcut, get them to demo it at your next team meeting.
- Watch for burnout: If Orum is making life harder, not easier, you’ll hear about it—if you listen.
8. Keep Training Short, Frequent, and Flexible
One marathon training session won’t stick. People learn best in small, repeated doses.
- Weekly tips: Share one Orum tip or trick each week.
- Micro-trainings: Five-minute sessions beat an hour-long slog. Add them to your regular team meetings.
- Update your materials: Orum will change. So should your training docs. Review them every couple months.
- Let people opt in: Some will want extra help, some won’t. Make it available, but don’t force it.
What to Ignore
Some onboarding advice sounds good but isn’t practical for most teams:
- Don’t rely on vendor webinars: They’re usually too generic and don’t address your team’s real-world issues.
- Skip the badge-earning “certifications”: Unless you’re in a highly regulated industry, focus on actual skill, not certificates.
- Don’t micromanage: Trust people to learn, but check in enough to catch confusion early.
- Don’t expect perfection: Some mistakes are inevitable. It’s part of learning.
Keep It Simple—and Keep Iterating
The best onboarding processes are the ones you’ll actually use, not the ones that look fancy on paper. Focus on getting your new hires into Orum and making live calls as soon as possible. Stay honest about what works and what’s a time-waster. Iterate as your team grows, and remember: simple beats perfect, every time.