Guide for People leaders to set up Notion at a Series A tech company

If you’re a People leader at a tech company that is transitioning to Notion, you should prioritize setting up a company intranet as one of your first steps. The first thing you need to know about Notion is that it is an all-in-one workspace that combines notes, tasks, databases, and collaboration tools to help teams organize and manage information efficiently.

If you’re new to Notion, that big blank space can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate startup intranet template. Just hit “duplicate,” add your company information, and skip the stress of starting from scratch. 

And if you have an executive assistant, delegate the Notion set-up to them. These are exactly the kind of projects EAs are born to work on: They have a bird’s eye view of the team and know exactly what your standards and expectations are. Ready to get started? Let’s see what your intranet should include.

Table of contents

1. Why is it a good idea to set up your company intranet in Notion?
2. What should be in a tech company intranet?

1. Why is it a good idea to set up your company intranet in Notion?

If you want to use Notion as a central information hub for the organization, ensuring everything stored there can help people learn about the company, find policies, support onboarding, and access training resources, Notion is just the tool for you.

Choosing your tech stack can be tricky, we know. There might be a great tool for your business you haven’t heard about, you might be under-utilizing an existing tool, or you may have tools with overlapping functions. That’s why we want to talk to you about Notion. 

Recent surveys show Notion climbing the ranks as the second-most-popular project management tool, a serious contender to Google Docs, and even a good option for CRM. What’s fueling its rise? Notion’s flexibility. Teams love that it’s “good for everything,” seamlessly adapting to their needs and making collaboration effortless. As tech companies streamline their tool stacks, Notion is proving to be the all-in-one solution they can’t live without.

2. What should be in a tech company intranet?

Company Information

Your company’s information hub is the go-to resource for understanding your organization’s structure, values, and key people. It provides a clear overview of the company’s history and mission, helping employees connect with the bigger picture. Outlining leadership roles and team structures ensures that everyone knows who to contact for specific needs. A well-maintained information hub also simplifies onboarding, giving new hires a reliable place to learn about the company and its people, so as a people leader you will really benefit from this. With everything organized in one place, your team can work more efficiently and stay aligned. Here’s what you’ll find in our Viva template:

• About Us: History, mission, and values
• Org Chart: Visual hierarchy of teams and roles
• Key Contacts: Leadership bios and department leads
• People Directory

HR and Policies

As a people leader, one of your responsibilities is making sure that company policies are clear for your team, so they feel informed and empowered. By centralizing key policies and resources in one place, you make it easy for employees to find answers without relying on back-and-forth emails. An employee handbook should outline important guidelines, such as remote work expectations, code of conduct, and workplace policies. 

Time-off procedures, including how to request PTO and track vacation days, should be clearly documented to avoid confusion. Additionally, a dedicated space for benefits information — from health insurance details to wellness perks — ensures that employees can easily understand and access what’s available to them. Organizing this information in Notion not only streamlines communication but also helps create a more transparent and supportive work environment. When employees know where to find important policies, they can focus more on their work and less on figuring out internal processes. This is what you’ll find in this template:

• Employee Handbook: Remote work, conduct, etc.
• Time-off Policies: PTO request process
• Benefits Information: Insurance, wellness perks, etc.

Onboarding and Training

A well-structured onboarding and training hub will help new hires hit the ground running. As a people leader, you can simplify the onboarding process and ensure no steps are missed by providing clear instructions and resources in one place. A detailed new-hire checklist guides employees through essential tasks, from setting up accounts to understanding company policies. 

Centralizing training materials like videos, guides, and learning paths makes it easy for team members to build skills and gain confidence in their roles. Additionally, clear instructions for accessing and setting up key tools ensure employees can get started without any roadblocks. Organizing this information in Notion creates a smoother, more efficient onboarding experience, helping new team members feel supported and prepared from day one. This is what you’ll find in this template:

• New Hire Checklist: Step-by-step onboarding guide
• Training Resources: Videos, guides, and learning paths
• Tool Access and Set-up: IT set-up instructions for key tools

Operations and Processes

An operations hub is crucial for keeping your team organized and efficient. By outlining clear procedures and workflows, you create a reliable reference point that employees can turn to when navigating recurring tasks. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provide step-by-step instructions for common processes, ensuring consistency and reducing errors. 

Templates offer pre-built structures for meeting notes, project briefs, or reports, saving time and promoting uniformity across the team. Workflows map out key processes such as content creation, sales pipelines, or customer onboarding, giving employees a clear path to follow. By centralizing these resources in Notion, you create a system that empowers your team to work independently, stay aligned, and maintain high standards across projects and tasks. This is what you’ll find in this template:

• SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures): Step-by-step guides for recurring tasks
• Templates: Pre-built structures for meeting notes, project briefs, and more
• Workflows: Outlines for key processes like content creation and sales pipelines

Knowledge Base

A well-maintained knowledge base reduces friction in day-to-day work. You empower employees to solve problems independently and stay productive by providing clear answers to common questions. FAQs address frequent internal queries, such as company policies, tool usage, or team protocols, giving employees quick access to the information they need. 

Troubleshooting guides are invaluable for resolving IT issues, navigating software tools, or finding essentials like WiFi passwords. Best practices documentation helps standardize effective work habits, ensuring your team follows proven methods for productivity and collaboration. Centralizing this knowledge in Notion creates a go-to resource that minimizes disruptions, improves efficiency, and allows your team to focus on meaningful work. This is what you’ll find in this template:

• FAQs: Answers to common internal questions
• Troubleshooting Guides: For IT issues or tool navigation and WiFi passwords
• Best Practices: Documentation for efficient work habits

Company Culture and Engagement

One of your goals as a people leader is building a strong company culture, which starts with creating opportunities for connection and recognition. An events calendar helps keep everyone informed about upcoming meetings, team-building activities, and social events, fostering a sense of community. Highlighting employee achievements through spotlights is a great way to celebrate wins, boost morale, and showcase individual contributions. A dedicated feedback portal encourages open communication by giving employees a space to share ideas, voice concerns, or suggest improvements. By organizing these elements in Notion, you create a transparent and engaging environment where employees feel valued, connected, and motivated to contribute to your company’s success. This is what you’ll find in this template:

• Events Calendar: Upcoming meetings and team events
• Employee Spotlights: Highlights of team achievements
• Feedback Portal: A space for ideas, suggestions, or concerns

Resource Hub

A well-organized resource hub is key to streamlining workflows and ensuring quick access to essential tools. By providing templates for repeated tasks — such as pitch decks, design briefs, or logos — you save time and maintain consistency across projects. This centralized space ensures that everyone is using the same formats and standards, reducing confusion and errors. 

Additionally, a section for key links offers easy access to critical systems like CRM, payroll, and customer support tools, so your team can quickly navigate to what they need without wasting time searching. With everything in one place, employees can focus on their work while knowing exactly where to find the resources that support their success. This is what you’ll find in this template:

• Templates for Repeated Workflows: e.g., pitch decks, design briefs, and logos 
• Key Links: CRM, payroll system, customer support tools

Entertainment

As we mentioned earlier, Notion is an incredibly versatile tool—you can create almost anything you imagine. Here’s just one example of how you could build a fun, engaging section. Consider what your employees are passionate about or what they might find useful, especially if they’re new to the area or unfamiliar with certain parts of the city. In our examples, we’ve included local recommendations like bars, cafes, and restaurants, along with playlists for deep focus, gym suggestions, and even running routes for the team to enjoy a quick sprint together. What other ideas can you come up with? This is what you’ll find in this template:

• Cafes and restaurants near the office
• Gyms and fun running routes nearby
• Playlists for deep focus
  

Feeling overwhelmed about optimizing Notion for your startup? A skilled executive assistant can set up and manage these databases for you. Book a call today to see how an EA can help your tech company stay organized.