December is a time of low productivity for most companies, so it makes sense that business owners want to hit the ground running in January. If your employees are struggling to shake off those post-holiday blues, here’s what to do.
- Set and Lean into New Year’s Resolutions
Goal setting is a great way to motivate people and keep them on task, especially if those goals are team-based. When you reconvene in the New Year, set aside time to define group and individual goals for the year – and see what employees need from you to ensure they’re achievable. This might mean providing tech training sessions, offering group outings, or empowering your team to make critical decisions.
- Check in With Team Members About Career Goals
New Year’s resolutions are often career-based, which means that your team might be thinking about the next steps in their career. Keep them focused on climbing the ladder at your organization (and not another one!) by meeting with them one-on-one to learn about their career goals, discuss organizational mobility, and creating a plan for progressing their career.
- Celebrate the Past Year’s Achievements.
That final pre-holiday December Friday is typically a day of frantic emailing and list-checking – with little time to reflect on the achievements or milestones of the year that’s just passed. Once you’re back in the office, carve out some time to go over the many individual and team successes from the past year, and celebrate alongside your team. Highlighting the positive impact of their work will help them start the new year on the right foot.
- Gamify Your First Week Back.
If your team is struggling to get back into the flow of work, gamify the experience. Identify desired outcomes and valuable markers of productivity, then create a way to highlight and celebrate them when team members meet them. Use a framework like a sport or a gameshow to encourage people to bring their best to the table – but just make sure that your game design is designed to uplift, not punish.
- Model that New Year’s Enthusiasm.
As an organizational leader, you’re a steward for your company’s culture. If you want your team to feel energized and upbeat after the holiday break, make sure you model the behavior you want to see. Greet everyone, ask about their time away, and encourage them to make the New Year their best one yet. If you’re feeling positive, they will be as well.
- Loop in Remote Team Workers.
Remote and hybrid workers in particular can struggle to feel that back-to-work motivation. You can make sure these team members are included in your “welcome back” efforts by pinging them on chat programs, having them collaborate on goal-setting tasks, throwing a virtual party, and making sure they’re included in all 2022 planning and updates. Workers who feel included and appreciated are far more likely to put in the effort.
If you’re incorporating virtual or remote solutions into your back-to-work efforts, talk to See in Colors. Our collaborative graphic recording and sketchnote services can help transform your annual meeting or town hall into a high-impact presentation that inspires staff to dig deep in 2022. For more information, get in touch today.
Lisa
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