Every year management has to balance between holiday enjoyment and daily motivation. The work still needs to get done but no one really wants to do it. Daydreaming about hot cocoa by the fire and stress about getting all the perfect gifts before traveling for the holidays can make everyone edgy. So how do you keep employees productive this time of year? Here are a few simple ideas.
- Encourage those vacation days. It might sound counter-intuitive but encouraging your team to take a day or two off will actually help them be more productive in the office. Too many employees hoard vacation days but that can be unhealthy. Give you team a half day off to go holiday shopping or encourage them take a Monday or a Friday off to re-energize them for the holidays.
- Plan early and communicate. No one wants to listen during the holidays. They want to be at home baking, decorating their tree, and spending time with family. Otherwise they are probably stressed about all they have to get done at home and not concentrating on what needs to be done in the office. Combat this by being clear in your instructions and plan for procrastination.
- One project at a time. Multitasking is a myth. The human brain is not designed to do more than one thing at a time. People who say they multitask are actually skilled at prioritizing. Be sure to focus on only one thing at a time during the holidays or little things might get lost in the shuffle.
- Leave work in the office. This is good advice all year long but critical during the holidays. When you and your staff leave the office and go home they need to be fully present with their family and friends to celebrate the holidays. It is unfair to ask anyone to avoid activities to do work from home during this time of year.
- Get into the holiday spirit. Finally, encourage some holiday cheer in the office. Cube decorating contests, pot lucks, and secret Santas can give everyone a boost of joy so they feel more productive getting things done for the end of the year. Organize a holiday party or have small fun events every day.
Do you want to stay productive during the holidays? Harvard Resource Solutions Agencies in Detroit MI can help today!