How FocusU Turned New Hires into Company Culture Champions

Guess what? We’ve got an epic tale to share! Picture this: last month, the FocusU team took on a challenge almost as big as the tractors and harvesters our client manufactures. We’re talking about a global giant in the world of agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery. If you can imagine a farm or construction site looking like something out of an action movie, you’re on the right track. But hold on—these folks aren’t just about big machines. They’re also heavily involved in diesel engines, drivetrains, financial services, and are all about innovation and sustainability.

Trivia Break! Did you know that the first diesel engine was designed to run on peanut oil? That’s right—Rudolf Diesel, the inventor, was a big believer in biofuels, which aligns with today’s push for sustainability in business. Imagine powering those massive machines with peanuts!

Now, let’s get back to the story. Why did this industry giant knock on our door? They had a classic problem: ensuring their new hires truly understood the company’s core values during a fast-paced onboarding process. They didn’t want to overwhelm these newbies with a flood of information—because let’s face it, who remembers everything after cramming for an exam? They also needed a way to check if the new recruits were actually absorbing all that important information about the company culture. And here’s the kicker—they needed to pull this off in just two hours for about 200 participants. No pressure, right?

Well, at FocusU, we love a good challenge. We designed a unique, gamified learning solution using our Joyflar learning app, and spoiler alert—it was a big hit! We divided the process into two phases. Curious about how we did it? Let’s dive in.

Phase 1: Pre-Engagement Icebreakers

First, we tackled Phase 1, where the goal was to get those team vibes flowing. Over 10 days, participants engaged in three major activities: icebreakers, “What Your Wellbeing Looks Like?”, and a virtual team interaction we like to call “Coffee Conversations and a Team Picture!” The best part? These activities were asynchronous, allowing everyone to join whenever it suited them. No awkward small talk—just fun, meaningful interactions that helped everyone connect.

To keep things engaging, we split everyone into 20 teams, a setup that continued into Phase 2. This approach not only helped build team spirit but also maintained momentum throughout the program.

Phase 2: Culture Assimilation

Now onto the main event—Phase 2: Culture Assimilation. This was a live, instructor-led session on a virtual platform, all centered around the client’s five core values: Integrity, Quality, Humility, Commitment, and Innovation. We tailored this session specifically for young campus graduates, keeping it light, engaging, and—most importantly—fun.

Here’s how it all played out:

• Inform: We kicked things off by introducing a specific value through a video, ensuring it resonated within the company’s context.
• Reflect: Participants then reflected on the value in a broader context with some seriously fun activities, like analyzing movie scenes, solving crosswords and word searches, and even playing a bit of hangman. Who knew reflecting could be so entertaining?
• Apply: Finally, participants thought about how they could bring that value to life within the company, making it personal and relevant.

By the end of the session, these new hires weren’t just aware of the company’s core values—they were living them. The gamified approach ensured that the information wasn’t just remembered but embraced with real enthusiasm. What could have been an overwhelming onboarding process turned into an engaging and memorable experience, all thanks to FocusU’s creative approach to experiential learning.

Oh, and before we wrap up, let’s talk about the gamification elements you just experienced while reading this blog. From the trivia break that tickled your curiosity to the engaging storytelling that kept you hooked, we’ve sprinkled in some gamified learning magic. You’ve been on a journey of discovery, reflection, and a bit of fun—just like our onboarding program! Who knew reading about tractors and onboarding could be this entertaining?