My Not-So-Great Onboarding Experience

I smiled a lot when I saw this prompt by the Hive Naija Community. I think it was mostly because I’d had an experience recently with onboarding someone to Hive. I will be honest when I say that the gospel of Hive is not something I’m so fond of preaching. And that’s because I know what it is, and I know how hard you need to work to make it here. I know the joys, sorrows and anxiety I’ve felt in my journey here. I know it’s not something you can venture into if you don’t have commitment, perseverance, honesty and above all, discipline. But many people don’t see it that way.

So the few times people see me fiddling away on my phone, they’d ask, “What are you doing, Tess? Why are you always on your phone?” And then I talk about my writing and talk about Hive(in the best, layman's way I can without all that technical jargon), I would almost always be cut short to hear, “So how much do they pay you for your writing?”

Then I try to explain that it’s not a fixed amount and I’m not exactly, “paid” for it. Then they go all, “Ah! I’m looking for money o. If the money is not there, I can’t be here.” Most of the time, my response would be along the lines of, “I’m glad to hear that. If you’re looking for big money, then Hive is not the place.” I mean I’ve been here for about a year and a few months and I still haven’t experienced this really big money they seem to find. But even if I see, I know it’s not something that happened at the snap of a finger. I know how much I put in and even then, these things are still on a probability. At least for most of us in this region.

I’m not a fan of onboarding because I know the hassle in it. I know the risk an onboarder faces based on the actions of his newbie. I know that, with how things are with many people in the economy, would I say everyone’s eye is red? Maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but many of them do not want to hear, “You may post and not get curated,” but if you’re steadfast, engage and try to have meaningful connections, you will see the beauty of Hive in the long run.

Many people don’t stick around to hear what I have to say before that but. One thing I would never do when talking to someone I hope to onboard is to immediately talk about the monetary benefits. I tell them that you would make meaningful connections. I tell them that you will build yourself as a writer, and learn from people’s stories and experiences. I tell them that every day is something beautiful to learn. I try to make the possible rewards as little as possible so they don’t put their minds to it.

It’s one of the things I’m grateful to my onboarder for. She made me understand that I would be writing on Hive since I have a passion for writing. I don’t think I knew to claim rewards till about my fourth month on Hive, cause I didn’t see it as a major reason to stay here. However, the few times I’ve admired someone’s writings from outside Hive and I see that they have the potential for thriving here, I don’t hesitate to try to bring them in. And that’s how my last experience went a bit awry.

I’d been trying to bring this person to Hive cause I loved her writings. And the very few times I’d post something Hive-inclined, she’ll be “Hey Tess, it looks like this is something I’ll be good at. Put me on, would you?” I guess I was sceptical because I’ve known this person for a long while and I knew she’s always been this opinionated.... let’s just say someone who is not exactly keen on being led. A lady of her own and all that.

I can’t begin to enumerate even when I sent a series of voice notes educating her on the value of asking questions and not just doing things because you feel you know it, and a whole bunch of things. I thought that we would take it step by step so that it would go smoothly. Next thing, she said she’d mistakenly created three accounts. I didn’t even know what to say. “How did you that?” I asked, trying not to flip out on her. “And I think I even lost my keys,” she continued.

I mean guys, it’s not something I would want to dwell on but even with my somewhat anger about it, I still felt there was something we could do. But then a few other “mistakes” later and I came to conclude that either she was just a difficult and un-leadable “student” or I just wasn’t cut out for being a great onboarder. This is my first time actively trying to bring someone in and since it hadn't turned out the way I wanted, I'm not sure how to feel now.

I’m the kind of person who wouldn’t want to bring someone into a program when I know I can’t follow the person all the way. It’s a huge deal because once the person comes in, you become permanently affiliated with that person and you would always want them to succeed. My lesson at the end of the day is that with all our quests to bring in new people, we shouldn’t be in a rush and then leave them halfway to fend for themselves which may not turn out so well.

I guess this is my two cents on Hive onboarding. All in love and support for Hive, let’s keep doing the best we can!

Jhymi🖤

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