Monday Morning Management: Using the holidays to help build your team
So much for a weekly blog! Getting caught up in the holiday and my travels are behind me now so I’m primed and ready to start a Monday Morning blog, helping you start each work week with new ideas and perspectives!
But there’s no ignoring it - the holidays are upon us and they can and do distract from work and focus. As a manager, the question is, “How can I use this time to help my team?”
Depending on your industry, work may either slow down or be busier than ever. Each situation poses its own unique challenges but in either case, it’s an excellent time to foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration.
People at work love to rally around a “cause” or goal. And because there’s no avoiding the impact of the economy at this time, why not support a group effort to collect food for a local food bank or a needy family? Maybe buy a large jar and ask your team to fill it with loose change. You’ll be surprised how they get involved with watching it fill up and guessing how much they will be able to send to a designated charity. You may even want to offer a “prize” for the person who guesses closest to the exact amount.
And in these challenging times, it’s even more important that we don’t eliminate our team rituals. They’re more important than ever! If you previously had a large dinner for your team or company but find that’s not practical this year, then perhaps a lunch or a potluck would serve the same socializing outcome. One organization I know of closed the office down at 4 PM on a Friday and had a huge Ben & Gerry’s ice cream sundae party. Everyone had a great time, costs were minimal, and all were grateful for the holiday party time on a Friday afternoon.
I realize that some of these ideas may not work in your organization but don’t let that stop you! Think out of the box and use this holiday time to create a feeling of “team” with your team.
BLOG RX: What will your employees need to feel and work more like a team? Ask them!
Pull some of your employees together and brainstorm about what they would like to do this holiday season. If it’s a social event, you may even want to give them a budget figure to work within and watch how creative and involved they can be. If it’s a group project, such as a charity event, make it easy, make it fun and show total support. This is your opportunity to take a leadership position to strengthen your team and have fun, too!