As we approach the start of 2018, many employees are in a holiday state of mind in the workplace. Workloads are wrapping up for everyone and thoughts have turned to daydreaming about upcoming vacations and time off. And even though teams will be expected to hit the ground running when they return in the New Year, some might find themselves struggling to reacclimate again after being in the post-vacay bubble.
How can bosses inspire their teams to get back to business in the New Year? Keep the holiday spirit in mind to kickstart the year on a high note and implement the following strategies to ensure strong teamwork all around.
Get excited about setting goals and charting progress with your team
If you conducted (or are in the process of conducting) a year-in-review for Q4, you probably have a good idea of what kinds of goals you’ll be setting for your business in Q1. Meet with your team and make sure everyone is on the same page about these goals. Each team member should be clear about their responsibilities for upcoming assignments and how they’ll be able to reach them. For every goal set, get excited with your team about their progress. When achievements are made, celebrate with your team and keep spirits high as they continue to keep moving towards their goals.
At the start of the New Year and all throughout the year, share stories highlighting team members who have gone above and beyond in the workplace.
Share stories of successful team members
The most successful leaders are the ones that encourage their team to go the distance. At the start of the New Year and all throughout the year, share stories highlighting team members who have gone above and beyond in the workplace. You can do this during a group meeting or through a company-wide email that the entire team gets to see and reply to with their favorite funny GIFs. This lifts up spirits and encourages your team to keep working hard and putting in the extra effort, as it definitely does not go unnoticed.
Be just as inspiring!
Small business owners wear a lot of hats and can easily get caught up in the day-to-day, which can sometimes lead to forgetting to invest in their team and workplace. If you want your team to go the extra mile for you, be prepared to run right alongside them.
Take the time to say 'thank you' to your team daily to show them how much you appreciate their hard work.
Come into work with a great attitude and plenty of genuine optimism. Be festive and make work fun. Take the time to say “thank you” to your team daily to show them how much you appreciate their hard work. From an open door policy to checking your email inbox regularly, make sure the lines of communication are open and that your team knows how they can reach you. Listen to what everyone has to say and encourage them to give you feedback in return. Reward everyone for their hard work with catered lunches or breakfasts. And finally, be ready to roll up your sleeves and work just as hard as everyone else. Actions are louder than words and when you implement a little bit of all of the above on a daily basis, you’re helping to create an atmosphere where everyone feels confident in their abilities and inspired to keep giving it their all.