Some of the best ideas to help manage and motivate your staff this Christmas can come from other fellow businesses. So here are a few suggestions, from a selection of my clients, to help you nurture the Christmas spirit, without costing a fortune!
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Are you sure your employees know what contribution they are making to the overall success of your organisation? Never assume they automatically know. Equally, keep your communications honest and open, particularly through difficult times. Don’t stop communicating just because you feel there’s very little to tell people.
Also, remember that good communication is about listening – try asking your staff what they would like to do this Christmas – Bingo Afternoons, Office Karaoke, Bring-a-dish-to-the-office (food!), Mega Games Afternoon, Universally Challenged (office quiz), in-house Christmas training events. The key is finding something that will appeal to a wide cross-section of people.
Ditch the Secret Santa
Rather than asking staff to buy those random presents for colleagues, why not club together and make a donation to a local community project or charity that means something to you and your staff? Perhaps consider not just sending the money, but arranging for a couple of staff to hand deliver it and even volunteering some of your ‘company’ time for a few hours – a great all-round feel-good factor! There are so many great local charities out there, who would really benefit:
In Shropshire, why not consider helping:
Severn Hospice – Caring for people with complex and progressive illness
CRY For Matthew – Raising money and awareness for cardiac risk in the young
Shrewsbury Ark – Shrewsbury’s drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerable people
Headway Shropshire – Providing specialist support for people with acquired brain injury
Rewards and Recognitions are not just for Christmas
Public recognition or an instant gesture for a great piece of work can be very effective. Keep rewards timely, fair and appropriate to ensure they have credibility and that they encourage the behaviours your business needs. Do remember that there are tax implications when rewarding staff, so seek the necessary advice.
Invest in Your People
Businesses have a lot on their plate this Christmas with pension contributions to navigate and the new national living wage to factor in. So, even if it’s not possible to give a Christmas bonus this year, try committing to invest in your staff’s training and development over the next 12 months This will not only help staff feel valued, but give them a better sense of security. Add in a relevant qualification and it can really bolster morale.
Have you any other good ideas to motivate your staff this Christmas? If so, please do share them below.
MERRY CHRISTMAS