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9 Ways Employers Can Motivate Employees During the Winter Months

Support productivity in the winter with these helpful tips.
Julie Keller Callaghan

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Photo: Shutterstock

Stress is a major variable that affects both our daily life and work life. A recent survey found that work was the main factor of stress for 28 percent of adults. Toughened Glass Systems found that one in three workers surveyed reported that the cold weather and illness affected their productivity at work. To help battle these stats, digital PR company Reboot Online has provided tips on how employers can help keep their employees motivated during the winter.

1. Make Yourself Available

Managing time and workload is important for all employees in an organization, especially management. Ensure that you organize your time effectively so that you have time to check in with them. This could include regular one-on-ones, giving feedback on tasks, and (if necessary) reallocating workload, which should fuel the team with drive and positivity and address any concerns before they grow. If you divide your time effectively, that’ll have a positive effect towards your team, increasing productivity with strong, fully involved management that always makes time to check in with everyone.

2. Offer a Flexible Work Schedule

If this is appropriate, incorporate a flexible working schedule into the workplace, which enables employees to work their usual agreed hours but at a time that suits them. This can reduce stress and give employees more time for personal errands, increasing their focus and engagement during the workday. 

“Not all employees thrive on a traditional nine-to-five structure,” says Shai Aharony, CEO of Reboot Online. “Creativity is so important in our industry and allows our staff to work at times that best suit them. Whether that’s logging on at 7:30 am for the early risers or logging on later and working until later in the day, flexible working hours give our employees the autonomy to work when they are the most productive.” 

3. Flexible Work Goals

Let your team set some personal work targets. They’re more likely to stay motivated and productive when they feel ownership over their goals and objectives. Consider letting them pick one professional goal they’d like to complete by a certain time (such as learning a new skill that’s different but applicable to their field) and support them in reaching it.

4. Encourage Professional Development Opportunities

Offer short, engaging workshops or online courses your team can complete in an hour or less. Whether it’s a time management technique or a new tool, providing learning opportunities with tangible benefits for the next year shows your commitment to overall team growth and keeps them productive and engaged.

5. Give the Gift of Recognition

Consider sending personal shout-out messages, company-wide emails, or newsletters that recognize individual and team achievements highlighting how their efforts contribute to the company’s success and shared goals. These can provide a quick, sincere boost to morale and motivation. Personal acknowledgement also fosters a positive environment and reinforces each person’s impact on the company’s achievements.

6. Shorter, Focused Work Blocks

Encourage your team to work in short, highly focused blocks with regular breaks. Use a time-blocking method (such as the Pomodoro Technique that splits working sessions into 25-minute blocks followed by a five-minute break) for increased focus and productivity, especially as energy levels may dip during this time of year. Also, encouraging employees to get outside on lunch breaks, and stepping out into the fresh air and natural light will boost brain activity and help employees re-focus on their work tasks. Natural light not only increases productivity levels but is also good for mental health.

7. Incentives for Achieving KPIs

For employees who hit key performance indicators (KPIs), offer rewards, such as bonuses. Providing incentives can help employees stay focused on their goals and feel more of a sense of achievement.

8. Declutter Day

Encourage everyone to select at day to declutter their workstations and digital files. A clean workspace helps employees feel refreshed and ready to hit the ground running, boosting motivation and reducing stress.

9.Streamlined Meetings

Keep meetings short and focused. Opt for stand-up meetings, focused agendas, and clear action points to maintain productivity without taking too much time.

About The Author
julieKeller_author-1

Julie is the co-founder of Well Defined and a longtime influencer and advocate in the wellness world. Along with her work at Well Defined, she is an executive recruiter and marketing specialist for Hutchinson Consulting. She is also a consultant and content strategist for numerous wellness brands. She is the former editor-in-chief and publisher of American Spa and was named a 2019 Folio Top Woman in Media in the Industry Trailblazers category and a 2018 winner of ISPA’s Innovate Award. She is also a seasoned journalist, specializing in spa, travel, health, fitness, wellness, sustainability, and beauty. She has been published in Departures, ForbesTraveler.com, E! Online, Gayot.com, Insider’s Guide to Spas, Luxury Travel Advisor, Marin Magazine, Ocean Home, Smart Meetings, Spa Asia, and Travel Agent.