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TechSmith - Cultivating Company Culture With Video-Friendly Onboarding

July 17, 2025 - Video has become a cornerstone of modern communication, gaining prominence in the workplace when teams transitioned to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a vital tool for meetings, onboarding and corporate training, for example. Now, as the return-to-office (RTO) movement gains momentum, learning and development (L&D) professionals are increasingly recognizing the lasting value of video for both hybrid and fully in-office settings.

Using video in the workplace can empower employees to engage with content at their own pace, accommodating various learning preferences. Unlike live meetings, pre-recorded videos can allow employees to pause, rewind and rewatch sections, helping them fully grasp challenging concepts without interrupting the flow.

The flexibility of watching content on their own schedule can support improved learning and retention, which can help them absorb information at times when they're most receptive to it. This adaptability is especially valuable in hybrid and remote work environments, especially with teams spread across time zones.

The 2024 Viewer Trends Report by TechSmith , which gathered insights from 1,000 global participants on their engagement, behaviors and preferences with instructional video content, showcases a strong demand for video in the workplace with 90% of respondents expressing a desire for the same or increased levels of video-focused content. Here are some critical workplace areas where organizations can implement video effectively.

Video-Friendly Onboarding

Transforming the workplace into a video-friendly environment requires a shift in mindset. One way an organization can bring video to the forefront is by incorporating it into the onboarding process. As a pivotal phase in the employee journey — and often the first impression of company culture — integrating video communications into onboarding can make the experience more engaging and informative for new hires.

Video for onboarding can take many forms, from brief team member and company leader introductions to comprehensive training modules that cover essential company and role-specific processes, as well as explanations of health care and benefits packages and how to enroll. By leveraging video, organizations can create dynamic, visually appealing content that resonates with new employees, ensuring they feel welcomed and informed from day one. There are also reporting mechanisms that can be layered into onboarding content to ensure employees have viewed all segments.

This approach can extend to general training videos throughout an employee's tenure with the organization. According to a study by Forrester Research , people retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to only 10% when reading it in text, however, there are clear viewer preferences when it comes to video length and content type that will impact engagement. The TechSmith report indicates that viewers prefer instructional videos between 10-19 minutes long, as this format strikes a balance between depth and engagement. These concise videos are particularly useful for teaching specific skills or concepts that employees can absorb more quickly and efficiently.

Employers can consider longer training videos (20-39 minutes) if they provide in-depth knowledge on a particular topic. Videos exceeding 60 minutes should be reserved for teaching skills or abilities relevant to the employee's role. Although video onboarding can be met with skepticism due to being time-consuming rather than helpful, incorporating video into these programs can greatly enhance their effectiveness and appeal if they are relevant and self-paced.

Video-Based Workplace Communication

Beyond onboarding and training, video can also improve general workplace communication. With employees being 75% more likely to watch a video than to read a document, email or online article, visual communications can offer a smart and engaging alternative to meetings or even emails. The biggest hurdle to incorporating video in the workplace is the unconventional nature of it. This is where L&D professionals can support organizational managers in implementing it effectively, ultimately, “normalizing” the practice.

Aside from traditional training on how to use the organization's video tools and software, learning and development teams can equip managers with templates and best practices for creating impactful videos. These resources should encourage organizations to foster a culture that values authenticity over perfection. Leaders can set this tone within their teams by sharing informal videos, demonstrating that the content of the message matters more than a polished production. For employees working remotely who may feel “camera-shy” or unprepared to record a video, a supportive approach can build confidence.

Adopting video communication can and should be a gradual process. A study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology noted that it takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become a habit. Video share outs can eventually serve as a nice complement to more popular asynchronous communication methods like Slack, Webex Suite or Teams by enriching explanations where text falls short, but starting with small, low-stakes projects like weekly updates or informal team messages can allow employees to gain familiarity with the medium. Encouraging employees to first share videos within their teams or amongst their peers, builds self-courage before expanding to cross-departmental or company-wide audiences.

Video has proven to be an essential tool for fostering effective communication and learning. By offering flexibility and improving content retention, it can empower employees to stay engaged and informed. As organizations transition to hybrid or in-office work models, integrating video into daily operations is not just beneficial — it's transformative. With the guidance of learning and development leaders, organizations can fully leverage the power of video to drive collaboration, innovation and long-term success.

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