During the holidays, work is the last thing on many employees’ minds. So if your workplace’s productivity tends to drop off in the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, you aren’t alone. Encouraging your team to stay productive during the holidays is a challenge, but there are some things you can do to stay on track. Put these tips to work for you, and you won’t have to play catch-up in January.
Inject some festive spirit into your office atmosphere
Keep employee morale high by bringing some holiday spirit right into your workplace. Decorate the office with tinsel, put up a Christmas tree, hang snowflakes in the windows, or do something else you think your team will appreciate. Celebrating the holidays together is a great way to build team spirit and stay productive.
Look at data from past years
Past trends can give you a good idea where your workplace might lose productivity this year. Once you’re armed with this knowledge, you can take steps to prevent the past from repeating itself. For instance, if your employees tend to take a lot of time off around the holidays, either adjust your goals or hire some temporary staff to replace them.
Set December goals for your workplace
Goals are great for keeping people on track. Set some special goals for your workplace to achieve around the holidays, or put special emphasis on meeting (or exceeding) the goals you set at the beginning of the year. When your employees feel like their work actually makes a difference in achieving something, they’ll be more motivated to work hard through the end of December.
Give your employees some extra leeway around the holidays
During the holidays, it’s important for people to be able to visit with their loved ones. It’s okay to expect high performance all year round, but don’t be a Scrooge if your team members want to take a little extra time off to see family members or spend time with their kids. Try to stay flexible, and consider giving employees the opportunity to work from home or trade shifts with each other if possible.
Wrapping Up
If your workplace’s productivity sags during the holidays, don’t despair. Some good planning can help you reverse productivity problems without overworking your employees. By anticipating potential productivity issues, staying flexible, and setting clear goals and expectations, you can maintain your team’s productivity into January and beyond.