5 Ways HubSpot Managers Keep Teams Motivated Before the Holidays | Augur Tech

The Christmas season could be a time of 12 months when individuals are surrounded by household, buddies, good meals, and traditions. As a supervisor, you may be excited to chill and chill out whereas questioning how you will wrap up your end-of-year initiatives together with the celebrations.

You do not need to miss a beat with just a few days off, however you may fear that being too pushy with deadlines might go away you trying just like the Grinch.

At HubSpot, an organization that makes work tradition a precedence, our individuals managers are identified for creatively and strategically hitting seasonal targets whereas constructing workforce morale, particularly through the vacation season.

To assist stop your workforce from struggling the vacation crash, we have rounded up suggestions from HubSpotters on the best way to maintain groups on monitor whereas having fun with the vacations.

The right way to keep away from a Christmas blues

1. Break down the targets into achievable targets, phases, or quotas.

Folks can have rather a lot on their minds over the vacations, and having to attain a sure variety of targets by the tip of the 12 months can appear daunting and overwhelming.

To ease the stress that may come up through the end-of-year rush, break targets into phases, or steps. Your groups can test off smaller duties that may contribute to the larger purpose, and as every step is accomplished, they will really feel like they’ve succeeded and keep motivated to beat the following section.

“All of us have year-end deadlines or targets, and at instances, they’ll appear very daunting. We have discovered it useful to interrupt them down into smaller targets,” says Tara Ryan, former senior gross sales supervisor at HubSpot.

Together with his gross sales workforce, Ryan says he makes use of month-to-month and weekly quotas to interrupt down main targets: “Quotas are simpler to digest once we break them down into ‘25% compliance by the tip of the primary week,’ ‘50% achievement on the finish of week two’, ‘75% by week three’ after which ‘100%+ by the tip of the month'”.

“The method of breaking down targets permits us to measure our progress on a weekly foundation and offers us extra alternatives to have a good time workforce victories,” provides Ryan.

While you set targets, contain your workforce. Your enter will let you realize what they hope to attain, so you possibly can set lifelike targets as a gaggle and talk about the best way to handle potential obstacles.

“If I do know we’re about to enter a time the place it is simple to decelerate, like summer season or trip, I attempt to get my group collectively to brainstorm what we need to accomplish as a gaggle and vote on An goal”. says Caroline Ostrander, senior supervisor of the shopper onboarding workforce.

Like Ryan, Ostrander additionally embraces the thought of ​​aiming for a restricted variety of achievable targets moderately than making an attempt to perform every part directly.

“A purpose helps the workforce to focus and prioritize once we really feel unmotivated. [After the vote]I am searching for one or two volunteers to guide the cost for the purpose and discover enjoyable and artistic methods to maintain it in thoughts,” explains Ostrander.

2. Put together for winter climate hurdles with work-from-home protocols.

At HubSpot’s headquarters in Cambridge, MA, winter climate is acquainted, and we perceive how a serious snowstorm can actually throw us off our schedule. Should you stay in an space the place winter climate can have an effect on your workflow, it is important to remain forward of this hurdle. An effective way to do that is to design a winter protocol to your workforce.

Larry Rodman, former Buyer Service Supervisor, suggests asking your workforce members to take residence their laptops and work gadgets if there’s an opportunity your workplace will shut throughout a storm.

“All the time take residence every part that you must work [at the end of the work day; you never know what the weather will be on any given day,” Rodman says.

If you live where winter weather isn’t an issue, it can still be beneficial to consider a work-from-home or hybrid model for the holiday season. It would give your employees more flexibility in how they work during a time when they may want to spend more time with loved ones, even if they do so while working.

The rise in popularity of remote work means that some of your employees might already be working from home or a hybrid model, so you can offer in-office employees the opportunity to take new flexibility during the holidays.

3. Encourage team members to take time off for the holidays.

Your employees have a life outside of work, so aim to encourage your team members to take time off for themselves during the holidays when they don’t work at all. 

“Be transparent and empathetic with your team. Make sure they are comfortable taking time off at the holidays,” says Senior Director of Marketing Amanda Sibley. She encourages her team to share their off days on a shared calendar, but also clearly communicates expectations to ensure people don’t lose steam.

“I ask for 100% effort until they are off,” Sibley says. “I often will say something like, ‘It’s really important to take time off, so I’m glad you all have chosen a week during the holidays! — Until then, in order for us all to relax and enjoy family time, we need to be at 100%, so please focus until that time!”

Encouraging your employees to take time off also has proven psychological benefits. Studies show that it can make people more productive, and when people are removed from environments that they may associate with anxiety, their stress levels can lower. Employees who feel refreshed and less stressed are more likely to come back to work with a clear head, ready to start the year off on a positive note. 

4. Give employees a day or even a few hours for holiday errands.

Even with upcoming time off, people’s minds can wander with thoughts of holiday errands and planning before upcoming celebrations. To help employees remain focused while at work, you can offer additional hours off to prep for the holidays ahead of time. 

“Give time for those who need it to handle the crazy stuff needed for the holidays,” suggests Sibley. “What about a half-day in the middle of the week or in early December to do all their holiday shopping when the crowds are less?”

This tip can be helpful when paired with offering remote work options, as team members can take breaks from work while accomplishing separate tasks. For example, if employees prepare for an at-home celebration, they can take breaks to cross off items on their to-do lists and return to work with a clear head. 

5. Celebrate the holidays — and your team’s accomplishments.

Lastly, embrace the holiday season, celebrate, and end your year on a high note. After all, you and your team have worked hard to achieve your annual goals. 

“Don’t pretend like the holidays aren’t happening. Celebrate with your team,” encourages Senior Social Media Manager Kelly Hendrickson; “Knowing there is a specific time for fun, helps focus that holiday spirit.”

End-of-year celebrations allow teams to bond, review the year’s accomplishments, and show gratitude for one another. The holidays can also be challenging for some people, so creating space to celebrate and spread cheer at work can be a welcome opportunity that boosts morale. 

Aside from general celebration, the most important goal of these events is to have fun and reward your teammates for a year of hard work. When planning an end-of-year meeting, Ryan suggests asking each of your team members to note one individual or group accomplishment that they’re most proud of from the past year. “This is a great chance to remind the team of all the wins you had together over the last 12 months,” says Ryan.

Rodman also says he emphasizes team accomplishments at end-of-year celebrations, explaining that rewarding accomplishments can help to motivate your team even after they return from the holidays.

Get in the Holiday Spirit

It can be easy to forget how fun the holidays are when thinking about end-of-year deadlines. But, as we’ve seen from HubSpot managers above, getting in the holiday spirit will benefit your mood and your team. Don’t be afraid to embrace the pleasantries of this time of year.