Latest / The Confident Entrepreneur With Jennifer Ann Johnson / Seasonal Strategy: Holiday Fun with a Purpose With Jennifer Ann Johnson
Transcript
- 0:36Jennifer Johnson: Today, we're decking the halls of your workplace with some holiday cheer.
- 0:40Jennifer Johnson: That's right, we're diving into the whys and hows of celebrating holidays in your business.
- 0:45Jennifer Johnson: Now, before you say bah hombug and dismiss them as frivolous, let me tell you: holiday celebrations can be a powerful tool for boosting morale, enhancing company culture, and yes, even improving your bottom line.
- 0:57Jennifer Johnson: So grab a mug of hot cocoa and let's slay this topic.
- 1:02Jennifer Johnson: First things first, why should you care about celebrating holidays in your business?
- 1:07Jennifer Johnson: Well, let me jingle your bells with some facts.
- 1:09Jennifer Johnson: Companies that celebrate holidays see a 44% increase in employee engagement.
- 1:15Jennifer Johnson: 78% of employees say holiday celebrations make them feel more connected to their company.
- 1:21Jennifer Johnson: And businesses that embrace the holiday spirit report up to a 20% increase in productivity in the following quarter.
- 1:29Jennifer Johnson: So, guys, that's not just holiday magic.
- 1:32Jennifer Johnson: It's good business sense.
- 1:34Jennifer Johnson: So let's talk about timing a little bit.
- 1:37Jennifer Johnson: The key to successful holiday celebrations is to really strike when the iron's hot per se.
- 1:44Jennifer Johnson: But not so much that you actually burn out your team.
- 1:47Jennifer Johnson: Here's how to nail it correctly.
- 1:49Jennifer Johnson: Start early.
- 1:50Jennifer Johnson: Begin planning at least two months in advance.
- 1:52Jennifer Johnson: It gives you a lot of time to organize without a lot of last-minute stress.
- 1:56Jennifer Johnson: Plus, if you get your holiday parties and celebrations in early, that's even better.
- 2:02Jennifer Johnson: Spread the cheer.
- 2:03Jennifer Johnson: Don't cram it all into one day.
- 2:05Jennifer Johnson: Spread it out throughout the season to maintain that festive spirit.
- 2:08Jennifer Johnson: And then respect their workload.
- 2:10Jennifer Johnson: Schedule events with consideration for your busiest periods.
- 2:14Jennifer Johnson: A stressed team is definitely not going to enjoy the full fun and festivities that you have going on.
- 2:22Jennifer Johnson: So let's talk about some ways.
- 2:25Jennifer Johnson: Let's just get into the nitty-gritty and let's talk about ways that you could actually have your team showing up and jingling all the way.
- 2:33Jennifer Johnson: So you could do something like an office decorating contest.
- 2:36Jennifer Johnson: If you have cubicles or offices or workstations, have that kind of contest going on.
- 5:08Jennifer Johnson: A secret Santa.
- 5:10Jennifer Johnson: But instead of buying gifts, have everyone create something handmade.
- 5:15Jennifer Johnson: Maybe a festive food feast.
- 5:18Jennifer Johnson: So you host a potluck and everybody brings a dish that represents their favorite holiday tradition.
- 5:24Jennifer Johnson: Maybe you're doing a charity drive.
- 5:26Jennifer Johnson: Nothing builds team spirit like giving back.
- 5:29Jennifer Johnson: Organize a toy drive or a food drive for a local shelter.
- 5:34Jennifer Johnson: Maybe you'll do a holiday movie marathon and set up a cozy corner for holiday movie screenings during lunch breaks.
- 5:42Jennifer Johnson: How about if you are virtual, you host an online game night virtually or do virtual happy hours?
- 5:51Jennifer Johnson: And how about a year in review showcase?
- 5:53Jennifer Johnson: Celebrate your team's achievements with a presentation of the year's highlights and successes.
- 5:59Jennifer Johnson: That is sure to get people to laugh and have a lot of fun.
- 6:04Jennifer Johnson: Now I'm I'm sure I'm hearing some people going, but wait, there's there's money involved in this.
- 6:10Jennifer Johnson: Sometimes, yes, there is.
- 6:11Jennifer Johnson: And you don't need to Scrooge, you don't need Scrooge's fortune to spread holiday cheer.
- 6:16Jennifer Johnson: Here's some budget-friendly ideas.
- 6:17Jennifer Johnson: So the potlock, that's that is definitely something that is going to be uh, you know, more cost effective.
- 6:25Jennifer Johnson: You can do use office supplies to create your decor.
- 6:29Jennifer Johnson: You can bring in free local entertainment, even time off.
- 6:33Jennifer Johnson: Get an extra hour to go do that Christmas shopping.
- 6:36Jennifer Johnson: Go home early, right?
- 6:38Jennifer Johnson: Those are all things that people really appreciate, especially over the holidays.
- 6:44Jennifer Johnson: But you are still a workplace, so we need to keep things merry and bright without crossing any lines.
- 6:49Jennifer Johnson: So you need to keep it optional.
- 6:50Jennifer Johnson: Not everybody has to participate.
- 6:53Jennifer Johnson: You have to make sure that you mind the clock.
- 6:55Jennifer Johnson: Schedule events during lunch hours or after work.
- 6:58Jennifer Johnson: And alcohol is always a slippery slope.
- 7:02Jennifer Johnson: That's ultimately up to you what you want to do with your company, but that's always a slippery slope.
- 7:06Jennifer Johnson: And then dress code reminder: ugly sweaters are fun, but no bikini Santa suits.
- 7:11Jennifer Johnson: You need to set clear guidelines so that your employees know exactly what it is that they can do or should do.
- 7:19Jennifer Johnson: Now, the Grinch factor.
- 7:22Jennifer Johnson: The holidays I know are stressful.
- 7:24Jennifer Johnson: So, how to ensure that your holiday celebration doesn't add to the pressure?
- 7:27Jennifer Johnson: Manage manage expectations first.
- 7:30Jennifer Johnson: Communicate with the company and let them know that, you know, it's the holidays.
- 7:35Jennifer Johnson: You don't have to do this.
- 7:37Jennifer Johnson: I understand, you know, you could be busy.
- 7:39Jennifer Johnson: That's really an important message to send.
- 7:43Jennifer Johnson: Then also offering support.
- 7:45Jennifer Johnson: Provide resources for employees who may be struggling during the holiday season, offering flexible scheduling and quiet spaces where it's the holiday free zone, no Christmas music going on, just quiet, soothing sounds, or maybe no sound at all.
- 8:01Jennifer Johnson: So, how do you know if your celebrations that you're doing over the holidays are hitting the mark?
- 8:06Jennifer Johnson: Well, employee feedback.
- 8:09Jennifer Johnson: You could send out a survey afterwards and say, Did you like this?
- 8:12Jennifer Johnson: Any suggestions for next year?
- 8:14Jennifer Johnson: Maybe you know by participation.
- 8:16Jennifer Johnson: If less and less people are attending every year, you kind of know you need to make a change.
- 8:21Jennifer Johnson: And compare your productivity before and after your holiday season.
- 8:26Jennifer Johnson: Is it up?
- 8:27Jennifer Johnson: Is it down?
- 8:27Jennifer Johnson: You may know if what you're doing is working.
- 8:30Jennifer Johnson: So as we wrap up, remember celebrating holidays in your business isn't just about parties and decorations.
- 8:38Jennifer Johnson: It's about creating a culture of appreciation and team bonding and ending the year on a high note that propels you into the new year.
- 8:46Jennifer Johnson: So go celebrate, sprinkle some holiday magic in your workplace and watch as it transforms into increased morale, stronger teams, and yes, a healthier bottom line.