Navigating the holiday hustle with your team

Those that work in state and grant/contract positions, usually have chunks of the holiday season off. Usually there is this intense but festive tone in the air where everyone is trying to embrace what the holidays mean to them while buttoning up work before leaving for the break. Where did this big push come from? Why do we continue to foster this?

For some, this method may work the best so it is always crucial to become familiar with each individuals working style, especially if there is flexibility within your organization to do so. Another method to make work not the main priority in individuals lives during what I like to call family season (although you can argue all seasons are family seasons I guess) is to put off what you can until the new year. Here are a few tips to do so:

1. Whatever can wait until the new year, push it. Plan for new tasks/initiatives or tasks that a break between work would be inefficient to be picked up after everyone is back and reoriented. Not everything needs to be completed before off for the holidays.

2. Encourage your team to utilize this time to button up any items in progress that can be so they don't have the temptation to think about it over their break.

3. Planning for the year, make sure to block out at least a week per quarter where your team has minimal meetings and has the support and encouragement to take creative space. Rethink their processes and procedures. Are they most efficient? Are we utilizing out teams strengths? Do our team members like aspects of their job (not everything is going to be butterflies and roses of course)?

For more tips, please book a consultation or reach out to me directly via LinkedIn or at kathleenjohnson558@yahoo.com to claim your free 20-30 minute call to learn more about your needs and receive a customized plan.