Can You Keep Employees Engaged During the Busiest Time of the Year?

 

When employees are scrambling at work and juggling personal responsibilities related to the holidays, keeping them engaged on the job becomes increasingly challenging. After all, your staff likely has a lot on their mind, and not all of it relates to their position.

Luckily, there are things you can do to boost engagement, ensuring that the company remains as productive as possible during even the most chaotic seasons. If you want to know what you can do, here are some tips to get you started.

Don’t Force Joy

While the holidays are usually a joyous time of year, they are also incredibly stressful. But companies often want to make the most of the season by injecting “fun” into the environment, hoping that it will help workers feel appreciated and, subsequently, more loyal and engaged.

Even though recognition is beneficial to morale, trying to force everyone to be joyous is actually counterproductive. If workers feel like they have to maintain a fake smile and express faux happiness at every turn, their stress levels actually rise.

If you want to add some fun to the environment to boost engagement, just make sure it doesn’t feel mandatory. For example, while hosting an ugly sweater contest is fine, clearly state the employees are not obligated to participate. The same goes for other group events, like potlucks and after work celebrations.

Provide Autonomy

Autonomy allows an employee to take ownership of a task. While they may need to achieve a particular outcome, how they get there is in their control.

When a worker has some level of autonomy, they not only get to choose approaches that work best for them, but they may also experience an increase in job satisfaction. Motivation may also rise, as they are personally invested in the steps they choose to take.

However, make sure your team also has access to sources of support. Autonomy doesn’t mean you abandon them. Instead, you merely give them room to breathe. Make sure they know who is available should they have questions or need input. That way, the autonomy can feel like a benefit instead of a punishment.

Add Flexibility

If your workplace can support it, consider instituting a flexible scheduling policy during the holidays. This can help your staff achieve greater work-life balance, enabling them to adjust when they complete specific tasks and accommodating personal obligations.

While adding structure to a flexible scheduling program is a must, such as dictating mandatory core work hours or defining minimum manning requirements, even a bit of adaptability can go a long way. That way, your employees don’t have to be distracted by personal challenges, as they can choose to address them without having to miss work time.

By following the tips above, you can keep your employees engaged during the busiest time of year. If you would like to learn more about how you can improve engagement in the workplace, the skilled team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to discuss your goals or concerns with one of our knowledgeable staff members today and see how our employee engagement expertise can benefit you.

 

 

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