Holiday Office Prep: Avoiding Employee Slack-Off

The holidays are fast approaching and employees can start to slack off. First comes Halloween. As employees sit at their computers, minds turn to costume shopping, pumpkin carving, colder weather, family visits and holiday parties. Then images of turkey dinners and peppermint lattes come to mind. Holiday planning and excitement starts to kill productivity, focus and efficiency. Prevent distracted behavior with your team by following these tips.

MOTIVATE

When money talks, people listen. Set up a contest for your employees to not only streamline production but increase it. Whether it’s winner take all or simply rewarding individuals for meeting goals, employees are more likely to stay on-task and focused when there is money (or another incentive such as paid time off) within reach.

Also, treat employees to lunch to celebrate team successes. When employees see owners sharing the wealth, even in small ways, they feel appreciated, recognized and valued. Productivity and commitment increases. Even simple praise such as, “Thank you for bringing that marketing idea to the table in yesterday’s meeting” can inspire employees.

EVALUATE

Take the opportunity to review employees’ accomplishments over the past year and re-evaluate their upcoming goals. A review will help employees think about how they can grow and open doors to new opportunities for self-improvement. The end of the year is not the time to pinpoint faults but to spotlight strengths and areas of improvement. Identify how the company can grow because of these strengths.

Influential leaders, like Global Chairman and CEO Mark Weinberger of Ernst & Young, express the need for great people as primary assets. It’s important to evaluate employee ideas by listening, adapting and learning from them, Executive Weinberger told the Washington Post. Remember, not only are employees working for you, but you are working for them as well.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Stay focused as a business owner and leader. Employees take cues from management, so if you remain working and producing, they will too. Keep a lighthearted and positive spirit. For instance, strike a balance between office holiday decorating and staying on target to achieve team goals.

Do you have any other tips to keep your employees productive during the distracting holiday season? Let us know in the comments below, dropping us a line on Facebook or tweeting @123Print.

Author Bio: Harry May is a freelance journalist who favors writing about small business, entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.