The excitement and stress of the holiday season can become work distractions. Improve workplace motivation and productivity around the holidays with the following tips:
Motivation
As employees look forward to their holiday paid time off and get consumed with the spirit of the season, efficiency at work is subject to wane. To uphold productivity and re-energize employees, managers should set the example that they expect from others. RiseSmart.com’s blog suggests that to keep employees focused during the holiday season, follow your own expectations, such as avoid cutting days short for holiday obligations and give off positive energies that will motivate your team.
Evaluations
The new year follows the holidays, which means people are excited about fresh starts and resolutions. Use this time of year as an opportunity for your employees to reflect on their accomplishments and re-evaluate their goals. It’s a natural time of year when people embrace change, and as a manager, you can maximize on that open window for work-oriented self-improvement and introspection. According to employment blog FGP International, the holiday season is the perfect time to plan and strategize for the upcoming year.
Appreciation
Reminding your employees of their strengths and the effect their output has on company goals refocuses employees’ minds. Share with your employees that you value their skills and hard work on a special project to give their motivation at the workplace a boost. Global chairman and chief executive-elect of Ernst & Young Mark Weinberger expresses that he appreciates the “great people” of his a company and sees them as a primary asset. Executive Weinberger tells WashingtonPost.com that when it comes to your employees, you have to evaluate their ideas, listen, adapt them and learn from them. Verbally expressing appreciation and welcoming ideas from your employees, especially during the holidays, will help keep their mind on work.
Communicate
Because there’s a tendency for people to take time off around the holidays, communication will help ensure nothing slips through the cracks and mistakes aren’t made. If you or your team members expect to leave for an extended holiday, review projects and find solutions to make sure work gets completed. Speak with co-workers about temporarily adopting responsibilities from another employee who will be taking time off “” and suggest they do the same in return. Also, check that employees inform co-workers and clients about the dates they’ll be gone and who to refer to as a replacement via voicemail and email before leaving for vacation.
Attitude
You can’t ignore the fact that the holiday season changes the dynamic of your office environment or business. Welcome holiday spirit and share in the festivities with your employees, yet remind your teams to focus on their duties with the right attitude. The holidays aren’t the happiest time of year for everyone, and some people may feel the blues during Christmastime. Express to your team that it’s their responsibility to keep up with work moral and adopt the best attitude to stay productive and efficient. Suggest to your employees that to stay on track they should make a list of duties, deadlines and steps to accomplish. Ask them to refer to this list to stay on task and tie up any loose ends before taking time off.
About the Author
Peg Cummings A former teacher and business executive, Peg believes that all anyone needs to make a start up a business is an idea, start-up capital, and a smart consultant.