Besides all the parties, the dreaded end-of-year meetings and the urge to do some last-minute online shopping, there’s one other thing that gets in the way of being productive in late December: the time it takes to prioritize the year’s remaining work.
Although many businesses are realizing that an investment in cloud-based business software can keep them better organized and connected to the people and data they need, productivity starts with people. That’s why you’ll see so many articles popping up lately that try to itemize strategies for getting a bit more accomplished before taking a holiday break.
On the other hand, who has time to read all those stories? That’s why we’ve scoured the Web for the best tips and tricks about holiday productivity we could find, and created a list with links to get even more.
1. One ‘Me Day’ Could Reduce A Lot of Wasted Office Time
Yes, you may be taking off several weeks pretty soon, but carving out just one extra eight-hour period could make all the difference. As FastCompany notes, taking a personal day for errands will bring more focus to the time you have left in at work.
2. Use The Holiday Spirit To Galvanize Staff
Forbes magazine recently held an “Under 30” Summit of young business leaders, and asked them for their take on mixing business with pleasure in December. One of them, Jayne Juvan from law firm Roetzel & Andress, suggested there could be long-term benefits from things that may not seem very productive, like a holiday party or a last-minute happy hour. “A model that places employees first makes a lot of sense,” she said. “Employees who feel valued usually are more engaged and committed to the cause, and this often translates to better innovations and greater client satisfaction.”
3. Stop Giving It Your All
While it may sound counter-intuitive, the Globe and Mail’s Adriana Barton recently wrote that she’s avoiding pre-holiday burnout by observing the “70 percent rule.” In other words, she’s putting most, but not all of her energy into getting things done. Much in the way you don’t want to tax your physical health by constantly pushing your limit at the gym, Barton says pacing yourself a little at this time of year could actually lead to better overall results.
4. Turn Off The Time Clock
Just face the facts: There are going to be more interruptions over the next few weeks, not just for business owners but their entire teams. That’s why, as a list of tips from Entrepreneur magazine says, it’s better to reward results, not hours worked. If staff aren’t constantly at their desks, don’t criticize them, or praise them just for putting in their usual time. Save the applause for what gets done, because that’s ultimately what matters. If they can fit in a little caroling in between, what’s the harm?
5. Keep Your Role Models Top of Mind
For one of the most entertaining posts on productivity this month, visit The Next Web and read “Productivity Advice from People Smarter Than Me,” written by business book author Ryan Holiday. He includes intriguing lessons from a cast that spans Napoleon to his fiancee. The ultimate takeaway? If you want to be more productive, there’s bound to be some out there to teach you.
Of course, productivity isn’t just an issue over the holidays. For insight on productivity and other issues you can use all year ‘round, download Winning at Work: Success Strategies of 20 Top Influencers.
