Personal resolutions don’t last without continued focus and support, but the workplace can be an excellent environment for change, through structure, feedback and check-ins. Scan the horizon to see what’s coming to mind as you read this. Yes, you’ll be setting new performance plans this month, but get your employees thinking along lines of what they’d like to improve and change.

Have them form one or two behavioural goals they’d like to focus on, then discuss what they envision as success. A solid performing employee who enjoys their work and is exceeding their objectives may be consistently working additional hours and they realize it’s affecting their home life. You have as much to gain by supporting them to make some adjustments to ensure their work/life balance is in check. This is only one example. Meet with employees in January and ask them what they’d like to improve to be more effective. You’ll get a variety of answers and that’s the beauty of understanding the individual needs of your staff. You need to ask and listen.  

Offer your support, guidance, and keep the communication channels open so they can raise this with you at anytime. 

Tip

Leaders that take an interest in the development and personal success of employees are on the right path; well, the only path when you think in terms of retention, employee satisfaction, increased productivity, and providing a healthy work environment where people can flourish. Who wins? Each individual, you, and your business.

Given the multitude of activities bundled into one month, stresses add up as employees try to balance work, family, social gatherings, and importantly, finances.  There’s too much to do in 31 days. Your star employees may also be feeling the pressure, with high standards and an overflowing calendar. High stress can lead to illness, absences, edginess, and low productivity. 

Your support can take many forms; assess what will meet the needs of your employees and workplace. Find out what would benefit them and work in partnership for ideas and to prioritize solutions. Here are some ideas that speak to emotional, mental and physical wellbeing:

• Review year end employee expectations – are they realistic – does it all have to be done by year end? If the answer is yes, take the pressure off where you can. Prioritize and reschedule the ‘not important’ items. Reduce meetings unless they’re absolutely critical.  Have managers be attentive to signs of employee stress and put the topic on your management meeting agendas.
• Have a yoga instructor do a lunchtime session on ‘chair yoga’, stretches staff can do at their desk during the day.  Deep breathing, especially diaphragmatic breathing, is known to reduce anxiety. 
• Healthy eating – while a shortbread or two are yummy, have a dietitian or nutritionist speak about healthy eating choices during the season. Consider healthy food choices for employee gatherings and social events.
• Have a personal trainer speak and provide some motivation and ideas. Busy calendars can alter regular routines and some support may keep it as a priority.
• Bring in a psychologist for a lunchtime session on self-care, stress management, sleep, and managing emotions and relationships that may be challenging during the season.

Consider This

Employee health and wellbeing builds productivity, collaborative teamwork, employee satisfaction, health, and retention.  Ensure your people practices have a core philosophy of attending to employee wellbeing.