December has arrived, and with it comes office holiday decorations, party plans, and visions of sugarplums dancing in just about everybody’s head. And let’s face it—the desk doldrums just can’t compete with the shiny appeal of snowflakes and tinsel. But finishing the year strong is important to any business’s productivity! So how can you keep your employees engaged during the holiday season?

• Communicate needs and expectations. You may need to take a more active management role this time of year. That can begin with a friendly but frank conversation about holiday distractions, and how it’s important to work together and focus on a big year-end push. Remind employees about the goals that need to be met, and set and regularly communicate any deadlines. This may require more frequent communication or meetings, but it will help you stay on top of things, as well, as you juggle deadlines and staff PTO.
• Prepare for flexible scheduling needs. You want to allow your employees the time they need to celebrate, but you also need to balance business coverage, customer service, and productivity. So always prep early for flexible scheduling! Determine business needs—how many employees and supervisors must be in each department on any given day, and such—and communicate them. Setting an early deadline for PTO requests can help everyone work out their vacation as best as possible, even if some compromises need to be made. (Need tips on creating flexible scheduling that works for your business?)
• Make time to celebrate as a team. You don’t have to book a weeklong mountain retreat to celebrate the holidays with your team. A small gift, a catered lunch, or the annual office party can be enough to motivate the team while stoking their holiday spirits. And when you use these events to recognize your employees’ contributions and share your vision for the coming year, you make happy employees who are excited about the future!