How to Avoid the Back to Work Blues

We are so lucky in Australia.  The long Christmas break coincides with summer, and for many of us that means a seamless transition from the excesses of Christmas to lazing around on the beach or round the pool.  Bliss…

But now the holidays are over and its time to start to rev back up for 2016.

It can be very frustrating as January is often a less than productive month, with many employees, customers, clients, and contractors still on leave, working reduced hours, or mentally still in holiday mode.

If you are experiencing a less-than-busy month, take advantage of it! During most times in the year, many of us are so busy handling the day to day activities of running a business that finding the time to look ahead is rarely available.

Half-way through the financial year, January is a perfect time for you to review your business plans, and for you to encourage staff to do the same in their own areas of responsibility.

1. Encourage your staff to review their job descriptions and KPIs. Just like you, staff can get wrapped up in the day to day and gradually forget long term goals. Taking the time to review can help to motivate and mentally prepare for the year ahead. Staff can also use this time to get organised and develop a plan to achieve their KPIs.
2. Clear off that desk. Removing the clutter and finalising odds and ends that have been sitting in your to-do pile for months can be surprisingly energizing and leave you better prepared to take on upcoming projects.
3. Use this time to make contact with others in your network that are back to work. While it may seem that everyone is away until February, this is rarely true. Attend a networking function – while events may not be as busy as other times in the year, you can still make good connections and might even gain an edge over your competitors who are still relaxing on the beach!
4. Re-evaluate your goals for the year. You may have finalised your business plans last June, but more than 6 months have now passed and it is about time to re-assess. What were the last 6 months in your business like compared to your expectations? Are your expectations for the next 6 months still the same? This might be the best time of year to plan adjustments to staffing numbers and workloads.

Whatever your business, both you and your staff can be productive in January by preparing for the future. This is a valuable time of the year, and I encourage you not to waste it!