Dear Landa
Another installment of advice to the joblorn, where questions are sometimes real, sometimes not – but try to imagine the ones we can’t print.
Dear Landa,
I hate this time of year! I am stressed out to the max. My business is suffering from all the days off, holiday parties and totally distracted employees who, from the look of things, are spending more time Black Friday-ing and Cyber Monday-ing (and, as yet unnamed, Tuesday through Thursday-ing) than they are paying attention to the fact that we need to get a whole lot of work done by the end of the year. I swear, I don’t know how my business can survive a whole month of this. Okay, I’m just venting here but, have any ideas of how to fix this before I lose it and go off on everybody?
Signed,
Bah Humbug
Dear Bah,
Ok, first, try to remember that your employees are stressed too. Think of unifying events from the past: a box of bagels as a treat for those who get in early, ringing a bell when you’ve reached a goal, asking for their help in a staff meeting when everyone’s gathered in one place (“I know it’s a busy time of year for everyone, but I want to thank you in advance for focusing your efforts on our business goals as we near the finish line of 2016 …”). Would hiring temporary staff for a week or two help accomplish some of the tasks (hint, hint)?
Finally, try to relax about all this. Your business has survived many Decembers Past, will survive December Present and will make it through Decembers Yet to Come.
Signed,
Landa