You and your team deserve a well-deserved break. But before you get lost in daydreaming about your vacation plans, there's some work to be done! You want to ensure everything's tied up neatly before you close the doors. So, what's the best way to set your team up for success and get everyone into the holiday mood? That's easy! Have a quick check-in with your team and clients.
Here's what you should cover with them before the big break.
1. Project updates and deadlines
Let's get the work stuff out of the way first! As your vacation approaches, it's easy to miss some crucial details and dates for your projects. You should ask who's finishing what before the break. Are there any deadlines that might sneak up on you? This is a great time to check up on project timelines and make sure everything that needs to be wrapped up before everyone heads out is clearly communicated. It's the final push before the finish line!
2. Client expectations
When it comes to your clients, there's a good chance that they'll still be needing some things from you. Even if they don't mention anything specific, it's essential for you to connect with your team on what clients expect before and after the break. Make sure you and your team's calendars are updated to meet essential dates for them. It would help if you also let them know when you'll be able to get back to their emails after the break. Communication will help you go a long way.
3. Annual performance feedback
At the end of the year, annual feedback might sound very formal, but you can definitely make it more engaging. After all, it's a time to reflect on everything your team has accomplished and how to improve for the new year. Have you received any feedback that should be shared with the team as their team leader? Are there any big news about changes, promotions or goals for the coming year that you'd like to address before everyone's mind is off of work? Using this time to provide feedback is a great way to acknowledge hard work and set the tone for the upcoming year.
4. Team goals and celebrations
Before everyone heads off to their personal plans, you should end the week on a positive note. You've all worked hard, faced challenges and made progress. This all deserves to be celebrated. You can go the extra mile to throw an office party, but if that's not your cup of tea, you can take the time to recognize individual and team accomplishments. Whether it's hitting a big target or getting projects done ahead of schedule, it's a great moment to show some positive energy for each other! It's also a great time to talk about goals for the next year and inspire them to think big. If your team has got a specific goal that they're working toward, find a way to tie it to something that excites them, like a monetary incentive or the chance to gain new skills.
Clear communication and a bit of celebration are the final puzzle pieces to ensure everyone can relax and recharge. There's nothing worse than returning to unfinished tasks after a break and chances are you and your team won't fully enjoy your time off if work is still on your mind. So take time to check off the essentials, offer some positive words and show appreciation before signing off for the week. Start and end the break on a high note!
Season's greetings from all of us at Stingray Advisory Group.
If you're interested in encouraging your team on a daily basis, read some helpful getting started tips here.
Author: Gary Wong
What are you looking forward to the most for your break?
Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
Want to receive more informative content like this?
Sign up for our monthly newsletter today!
About Stingray Advisory Group LLC: Stingray Advisory Group LLC is based in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, and is a proud member of People First Economy and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We help businesses thrive. By improving our client's sales over 60%, reducing their expenses and boosting their engagement by 40% or more, we enable our clients to refocus on what they love.
Email us at info@stingrayadvisorygroup.com to schedule a consultation. Follow us today on
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more helpful tips!
To learn more, visit us at www.stingrayadvisorygroup.com
