After today there are only 11 days left in the year. You’re probably wondering where the year went and in the last working week of the year you’re either stressed and burning the candle at both ends to reach some deadlines, or comfortably winding down and looking forward to a holiday break.
A week with fewer customer demands (depending on your industry) can make for some great opportunities in and around the office to make improvements and prepare for the next year. Here are some important things you can do this week:
The office is a hotbed of personality clashes and competing priorities. If you are one to push an opinion then there’s a chance you may have inadvertently stepped on some toes throughout the year. Why not take some time to speak to individuals you have clashed with and address the situation – to either apologise if you’ve done something wrong or to try and clear the air to make sure no lingering tension exists. It can be uncomfortable to approach this, but it’s always a rewarding result. If you are talked about as a difficult person, it will be a great surprise to everyone to be a peacemaker as a finale to the year.
Season’s Greetings cards or emails are more sincere if they are personalised. I got a great slide show from one friend who gave a wonderful insight into her year. Remember not everyone celebrates Christmas, and some are sadder and lonelier at this time of year. Maybe add a personal touch to a work email to show you care. Maybe catch up face to face with a few people who you have really enjoyed working with over the year or make a special phone call, or send a gift or a special note. Talk about the interactions you and the person have shared and enjoyed. If it is personal you will have a strong effect on someone, it will remind them that in the sea of stress that is “work” there is someone that cares for and values them. Spend a little longer on it than the customary “it’s been a great year, best wishes…”
If your workload is dwindling you really have no excuse for a messy office or unfiled documents. Use the opportunity as a way of making a fresh start for 2012. Coming back to being disorganised or to a messy office can really give people that “oh dear, here we go again” feeling, whereas a clean office and clean desktop and filing can be motivating.
Managers are in a great position to finish the year off on a good note with the team. Call a meeting to discuss the successes of the year, thanking the group and highlighting specific efforts of individuals. Most of the time we focus on what’s broken and what needs to be done better, the last meeting of the year can be very uplifting when the opposite approach is taken. Don’t let anyone dwell on the disasters or errors the team has made – the idea is to finish on a high note that leaves everyone feeling positive and motivated about the potential for the following year.
It’s never too early to start planning for the future. Most of us use the end of the year as an endpoint and postpone any thoughts of the following year until after the holiday break. Right now you can jot down a few things that you want to achieve. The interesting part comes when you arrive back to the office and look at the list. Being fully refreshed and energised from some time off you will most likely see the world a little differently. Beware the overestimation of your capabilities and time when you’re in this relaxed and low-workload mindset.
And finally, thank you to each and every one of you that has read my blog throughout 2011.
Please be safe and happy over the holiday break!
Best wishes from Eve
Eve Ash has produced a wide range of resources for developing the skills to succeed at work, all available through her company Seven Dimensions.
Smart Company is the leading online publication in Australia for free news, information and resources catering to Australia’s entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners and business managers.
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