November is soon upon us and with that comes an election, Thanksgiving in the United States at least, and everywhere else Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, etc. Those all come with individual distractions. So how do you and your teams stay focused to avoid delays during the holidays?
Here are a few suggestions:
Prioritize. Remember, you can do anything. You just can’t do everything, at least not all at once. For these next three months get clear on what’s the most important area, the second most important, etc. Note that they’re all important, but sometime we have to suck it up and make tough decisions.
Balance. If that’s not possible, if you really do have two or more equally important priorities, balance them by determining what aspects of them are most important and focusing on them.
Recalibrate. One of the biggest mistakes people can make is treating schedules during November and December the same as any other month, minus the actual days of the holidays. Something that might take 10 working days in October is likely to take 14 in December. Build out the schedule accordingly.
Pragmatize! The other approach is a pragmatic one. Understand that these distractions are coming and figure out how to co-exist with them. For example, giving people an hour to cybershop so they stay focused on their work the other hours that week is probably a good trade off. Or, giving people different days of the week to come in late, go home earlier, or take a longer lunch could also do the trick.
Recommit. Your work is important. You and your colleagues know that but we can all use a reminder from time to time. Celebrating that during these months can give everyone a sense of pride as well as help keep them motivated. That’s yet another reason why every organization should get crystal clear on its WHY. (Learn more about the role the WHY plays in a Focus & Messaging Framework.)
Another way to avoid delays during the holidays is to keep an eye on mental health. Of course, mental health should always be a priority—especially during the holidays. Keep an eye on the head-spaces of your colleagues as well as your own. Help is out there for anyone who needs it. For example, check out these resources from the City of Boston (scroll down to the bottom of the page).
