11/26/2025
I don't know about you, but our whole team is so excited about the holidays coming up! But with that excitement does comes the typical distractions that holidays can cause. So how do you keep your employees engaged while still keeping the holiday spirit alive?
Acknowledge Successes. Just like any time of the year, it’s important to provide recognition to your employees, especially during the onset of the holidays. You can do so by providing fun holiday-themed incentives such as gift cards, festive dinners, maybe some additional PTO, etc. This positive reinforcement is right in line with the season. Plus, it'll give your employees more motivation to do well during the holidays without being negatively pressured.
Set Specific, Timely Goals. Setting deadlines and goals are vital to making sure that your projects have real end goals. But during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, family vacations, sick days, and holiday time off, it can be difficult to wrangle your team and set them on proper schedules. But no worries! Nothing a little pre-planning can't fix! Make sure to ask for employee's holiday plans upfront so you know how to work around their schedules. Then, set both realistic and obtainable individual and team goals with specific holiday deadlines in mind.
Make Projects Holiday-Themed. No matter what your organization or business does, there is always a way to get festive AND work towards increasing productivity! How? Lean into the holiday spirit of course! Trying to land a new client? Why not host a holiday-themed networking event and invite them to join? Launching a new product? Create a holiday discount or holiday-theme for the product. Your employees will definitely stay engaged with your goals if they get to have some good holiday fun!
Don't forget to celebrate! Of course, keeping your office atmosphere engaging is crucial but you can celebrate by having a fun potluck for Thanksgiving or doing a Secret Santa gift exchange before Christmas. We do both! But to avoid distractions makes sure to set aside time during the day to engage in these celebrations. Maybe you all gather around lunch time to enjoy the potluck or wrap things up a half hour early to exchange gifts. Or maybe you just go out to dinner as a team after work. Whatever it is, pre-plan and have fun!!
