Finding our flow: Welcoming new team members without overload

Change is a natural part of any workplace, but when you’re in a close-knit team like ours, it can feel especially significant. This year, we’ve had two new podiatrists join us, and Locums on three seperate occasions, some work experience students step through our doors, and one team member taking time away to recover from injury. Along with balancing return to work from maternity leave. That’s a lot of movement and it’s brought both fresh energy and a need to pause and adjust.

Settling new team members in isn’t just about showing them where the instruments live or how the booking system works. It’s about helping them find their rhythm their flow in a new environment. There’s so much information to take in early on, and while enthusiasm is high, it’s easy to forget how mentally full those first few weeks can be.

Part of that settling-in process is the HR side. There are forms to complete, compliance checks, and policies to absorb all necessary but often overwhelming when you’re still learning everyone’s names. We try to take that step by step, making sure no one feels rushed. With time, clear communication, and a bit of patience on both sides, it all comes together smoothly and with far less stress.

For us, sustainability means pacing the learning process. It’s making sure new podiatrists and students feel supported rather than overloaded. It’s giving them time to breathe, ask questions, and get comfortable before layering in the finer details. Because when people feel settled, they perform at their best - and that’s what ultimately supports great patient care.

Change doesn’t just affect the new arrivals, either. The rest of the team also shifts a little to make space. Workflows evolve. Communication patterns adjust. It can be unsettling at first, but it’s also an exciting time a chance to refresh systems, share knowledge, and ease the load across the team as everyone grows together.

Our goal is to find that sweet spot where everyone, new or familiar, feels grounded and confident. Growth is only sustainable when it moves at a human pace one that values connection as much as progress.