July 23, 2025  

The Path to Greatness Begins on Day One | WT #121

Darren Smith

HTA for Mission, Weekly TRUTH

Formation isn’t something you add—it’s something you start with. Most onboarding programs are transactional: a desk, a laptop, a handbook, and the checked box that policies have been reviewed.  However, if we, in our organization, believe that every person is created for greatness—and if we claim that mission is central to our work—then day one of any new hire should reflect that. What we do in someone’s first days with us says more than our stated values ever could—after actions speak louder than words. So our actions must tells them what we believe they are capable of; they must demonstrate that our place of employment is one where growth is expected. Otherwise, it's just performance. And here’s the truth: onboarding isn’t just about getting someone new up to speed. Rather, it’s about setting the trajectory of who they’re becoming—and how they’ll carry the mission with them. So what if we flipped the script? What if onboarding wasn’t just about procedures—but about purpose? What if every new team member was invited into a path of formation—not just to learn what we do, but to reflect on why we do it and who we serve? Imagine an organization where new hires begin with questions like:
  • “What does greatness mean to you?”
  • “Where have you grown most in the past year?”
  • “What impact do you hope to make through your work here?”
That’s not HR paperwork. That’s a foundation for transformation for a person to become the best version of themselves. Because the path to greatness doesn’t begin after onboarding. It begins with it.

This article was last modified on July 23, 2025 .

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About the author 

Darren Smith

Darren Smith is Co-Founder of the Authentic Leadership Institute. He is a native Texan and a graduate of Dallas Jesuit and Texas A&M University. Over the past 25 years, Darren has visited 35 countries and led 100 strategy programs. He and his wife have five children.

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