If you tend to have fewer business enquiries around Christmas, then it’s easy to let things slip. But even in some of the busier industries employees tend to slow down for the festive break, losing productivity and creativity. But it’s this time of year that can really make or break your business. If you’re smart about it, you can get your business off to a flying start in 2018.
As we mentioned in our previous blog, an engaged, productive team is integral to business success. Especially at this time of the year. Here are four ways to keep your team productive over the festive season.
1. Show gratitude
Recognising your employees really does go a long way. If employees understand the contribution they’re making to the business, they’re more likely to be committed to your business goals. Of course, this is great for employee engagement which can have a direct impact on business success. Sears, Roebuck & Co. found that for every 5% increase in their employees’ attitude scores, there was a 1-3% increase in customer satisfaction and a 0.5% increase in revenue.
Whether you celebrate individual or team achievements, it’s important to show your employees gratitude. There’s not just one way to do this either. Gratitude can take the form of small gifts, giving employees more responsibility, or even just saying ‘thank you’!
Another great way to show employee appreciation is to host an awards ceremony. This could simply be a fun ceremony at your office Christmas party, with a mix of serious and light-hearted awards such as ‘The Eternally Late Award’. Or on the other end of the scale, you could invest time into planning an intricate awards ceremony with specific awards and nominations for each category. Depending on your budget, you could even invest in a trophy or plaque for each award.
2. Eat healthily
Food plays a huge part in productivity around the festive period. If you walk into an office in December, odds are that you’ll notice some form of communal junk food. This can take its toll on your employees. If you’ve ever fallen victim to the ‘3pm sugar crash’ then you’ll know what we mean.
Foods with a high glycaemic index such as cakes, sweets or burgers result in a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, which can leave you feeling slow and groggy for the afternoon.
To get around this, it could be wise to offer healthy alternatives. Some ideas could be communal fruit bowls, nuts, or vegetable crisps. Slow release carbs such as bananas and walnuts can also be really effective in maintaining employee productivity. Why not check out our top 12 productivity-boosting office snacks?
Not only is this great for your employees’ physical health, but this is also a great way to show gratitude. Did you know that 60% of employees feel more valued when their company provides them with food?
3. Introduce some healthy competition
Who doesn’t like a bit of friendly competition? This can be a really effective way to keep your team productive over the festive season. You can offer rewards in the form of a monetary bonus, an experience such as a spa day, or even some cool office tech. If you have a smaller physical budget, then why not introduce some unique employee perks? For example, you could offer additional annual leave, the chance to finish early on Fridays, or even stop work for the last day before the festive break to watch Christmas films if targets are met or exceeded!
Rewards can be offered for employees that meet their individual targets, or groups meeting a company-wide target. Departmental level competitions could include rewarding the top seller in the sales department or the customer support team member with the highest customer satisfaction score.
4. Review your office environment
Your working environment also plays an important part in keeping your team productive over the festive season. Offices with plenty of natural light, ample third space and fast internet can be perfect for maintaining productivity levels. The temperature of your office is essential too. Did you know that offices below 20 degrees can result in a 50% drop in productivity?
At Carrwood Park, our luxury business centre offers an abundance of natural light, over 4,500sq.ft. of breakout areas for employees to meet, collaborate and work, as well as superfast WiFi and individually controlled air-con in each room. Why not arrange a viewing at our high quality serviced offices in Leeds?
