With holiday gift lists calling for attention, celebrationslarge and small, plus plans with family and friends, there are a lot ofdistractions competing for our attention during the holiday season. So, it’sonly natural that employees would be less engaged at this time. But proactive managerscan actually encourageengagement by creating workplace “distractions” that capture the holidayspirit and bring the team together. Here are some of our favorites:
Take the team to aholiday movie. “Feel good” movies are everywhere during the holidays. Ifyour organization is small, a movie date (complete with popcorn, of course)would bring all of your employees together for a happy outing that’s sure todeliver a healthy dose of “positivity.” Is your workforce large? Then give themovie date as a reward to a top-performing team.
Have an ugly sweaterday. Most of your people probably have at least one of these buried in theback of their closet. Why not celebrate ugly sweaters, capping the event with acatered, on-site holiday lunch or a potluck? Have employees bring in their favorite holiday treats.
Give employees thegift of “errand time.” A big distraction for employees at this time of yearis trying to squeeze so much activity into after-work hours and weekends. Whynot “give” your employees the gift of a half-day off (with pay) during the workweek? As a bonus, consider letting them choose the date, assuming it alignswith departmental deadlines.
Create a team ofcommunity volunteers. The DaleCarnegie organization has found that “engagement levels are twice as highwhen employees are proud of contributions their company has made to thecommunity.” During this season of giving, why not create teams that can giveback to their community by volunteering at a soup kitchen, an animal shelter orsimilar place. If that isn’t feasible, make the office a place for collectingwinter clothing—mittens, caps, scarves—or toys to donate to a designatedcommunity organization.
At the holidays, especially, it’s important to keepemployees engaged. By going with the flow of the season’s spirit, instead ofpushing against it, you’ll push engagement to even higher levels.
Are you looking forfresh ways to engage your workforce in the coming year? Contact a MarketingInnovators solutions specialist for ideas that match your goals and yourbudget.
