Keeping teams motivated until the end of the year

2020 has been a year like no other. It will be remembered for a pandemic, a recession, months and months of lockdowns, social distancing, face masks and hand sanitiser. It’ll also be known as the year many of us started working remotely and some of us barely entering the office at all.

It’s understandable in these conditions that some people are finding it hard to keep focused and are desperate for the year to be over. But in the workplace, you need to keep spirits up and productivity high. If you’re wondering how to keep your team motivated, here are some of my suggestions.

HR Tip 1: Lead by example

It’s not just employees who are flagging towards the end of 2020, it’s you, the business owners and managers. If you’re clocking off early or you’re visibly distracted, it’s going to filter down through all levels of teams. That means now, more than ever, is a time to lead by example. Make sure you’re putting in the effort if you expect team members to do the same.

HR Tip 2: Set achievable goals

If you’re setting goals for yourself, set them for teams as well. After all, most people work better when they have an objective they’re working towards.
Ask yourself, could these be team goals or individual goals? What’s realistic in the short term? Work with them to set out a timetable for achieving it and even consider implementing a reward system at the end (see HR Tip 5 below). That way you’ll have almost two months of productive work before the Christmas break.

HR Tip 3: Keep up the talk

For many organisations, there are plenty of teams working from home. And, this can bring different challenges when it comes to keeping the team together and working as one. At the start of the pandemic, the regular Skype or Zoom calls were a bit of a novelty. But as times passed, they’ve become more of a necessity.

If people are out of the office, be certain to keep up the communication. Don’t leave them alone, disconnected and unaware of what they need to be doing. Make sure everyone knows they’re still part of the team and that they’re responsible for helping you achieve goals and driving business forward.

HR Tip 4: Think individually as well as holistically

With so many people out of the office, it can be tempting to take a group video call each day and leave it at that. But people are complex, and everyone is coping with the current situation in their own way. It’s incredibly important to have team meetings, but one-to-ones can really make a difference.

In the run-up to the end of the year, be sure to have those individual chats. Use these meetings to make sure they’re okay, check-in with their mental health and give them the opportunity to speak up about how they’re feeling.

HR Tip 5: Celebrate the end of the year

It’s always worth celebrating wins and this year is no exception. If you’re planning a Christmas party or end of year celebration, just be sure to do it COVID safe. For example, a staff picnic or beach day might be a better alternative to an office party. If you’re unsure of the rules or need some inspiration, read our article around COVID-safe Christmas parties.

The end of the year isn’t far away

These are just some of the ways you can keep teams motivated in the run down to the end of the year. If you’d like to know more about keeping your employees energised and productive over the next few months, please reach out. One of the Catalina Consultants team members will be in touch.