Thanksgiving is next week 😱 As the holiday season approaches, workplaces often face the perfect storm: year-end deadlines, team members taking well-deserved time off, and the allure of holiday distractions. It’s a challenging balance—but also a unique opportunity for leaders to demonstrate empathy, flexibility, and focus. Here are a few strategies to avoid becoming a Grinch and helping your team thrive during this busy time: 🎯 Prioritize Ruthlessly: Not everything can (or should) be done before year-end. Help your team identify high-impact goals and let go of the rest until January. 🎁 Celebrate Progress: The end of the year is a natural time for reflection. Highlight accomplishments, big and small, and acknowledge the effort your team has put in. 📆 Plan for PTO Proactively: Encourage team members to share their time-off plans early and build a clear coverage strategy to avoid last-minute surprises. 💡 Focus on Energy, Not Just Time: Acknowledge that holiday distractions are inevitable. Instead of fighting them, schedule work sprints during peak focus hours and allow for flexible, shorter days when possible. 🤝 Set the Tone: Leaders set the example. Model a balanced approach by taking time off yourself and showing appreciation for the team’s hard work. The holiday season doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—it can be a time to rally together, take stock of the year, and step into 2025 refreshed and aligned. How does your team manage the holiday crunch? I’d love to hear your strategies! #EmployeeWellness #Holidays #Productivity #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #WorkLifeBalance
Noelle Domeniconi’s Post
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As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to reflect on something that’s not only important to me as a leader but also vital for fostering a positive and sustainable work culture: the importance of allowing our employees to truly disengage from work and fully enjoy the holidays. In sales—and in so many other professions—it’s easy to feel like the grind never stops. Deadlines, targets, and emails can often creep into the time we should be spending with family, recharging, and reflecting on what matters most. But as leaders, we have the power to change this. Giving employees the space to unplug during the holidays isn’t just about being kind or generous (though that’s certainly a big part of it). It’s about recognizing that: 1 - Rest fuels performance: When people return from a break truly refreshed, they come back more creative, focused, and energized. 2 - Boundaries build trust: When employees see that their leaders respect their time, they’re more likely to stay engaged and loyal. 3 - Holidays are sacred: The memories we create during these times with loved ones are priceless, and no work email or task should rob anyone of those moments. So, this holiday season, let’s commit to giving our teams the gift of presence—the ability to be fully present with their families, friends, or even just themselves. Let’s silence the emails, delay the non-urgent meetings, and encourage everyone to truly unplug. As leaders, we set the tone. When we prioritize our employees’ well-being, we’re not just creating happier teams—we’re building a culture of respect, trust, and sustainability. Let’s inspire one another to lead with intention this season. #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeWellBeing #TeamBuilding #UnplugAndRecharge #SustainableSuccess #InspiringLeadership
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🌟 Supporting Our Teams This Holiday Season 🌟 As we approach the holiday season, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of deadlines, projects, and year-end goals. But this time of year is also about reflection, gratitude, and connection. For many, the holidays are filled with joy and celebration. For others, they can be a time of stress, pressure, or even loneliness. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to acknowledge this and create a supportive environment where our teams feel valued, seen, and heard. Here’s how we can make a difference: ✨ Flexibility: Give grace for all the things that happen during the holiday season. I remember when I worked in-office and had to stress about not being able to make it to every single holiday event at my kiddo's school, which led to stress about them being the only one without a parent there, which led to stress about whether or not I was a good mom, which led to stress about all the other things I don't do well as a mom, which led to... you get it. Being with an employer that gives full flexibility to make what's important important is a game changer. Can I/ should I make it to alllllll the things? No... but do I have the option to prioritize and move my schedule around? Absolutely - and it's one of the biggest reasons Syssero®has my respect and dedication! ✨ Empathy: Check in with your team, not just about work but about how they’re doing. Sometimes, a simple "How can I support you?" can make all the difference. Hold a space for those that maybe aren't enjoying the holiday season so much, and be respectful of employees who choose to bow out of celebrations. ✨ Inclusion: Recognize and celebrate diverse traditions, creating a culture where everyone feels their holiday is respected and represented. A supportive workplace isn’t just good for morale—it’s essential for well-being. Let’s make this season one where our teams thrive, both professionally and personally. To all my fellow leaders: let’s show our appreciation, not just with words, but with actions. 🎄🤝 #Leadership #EmployeeWellBeing #HolidaySeason #EmpathyInLeadership
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🎉💫𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫: 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐭 As the 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, many of us start to feel the weight of stress and fatigue—even as we look forward to the holidays. Juggling work, personal commitments, and all the extra tasks that come with holiday planning can leave us feeling stretched thin. Whether it's managing the costs of gifts and meals, worrying about travel, or the pressures of hosting family, the challenges are real. In fact, a recent article in Forbes found that 53% 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, and 1 in 5 workers say their overall well-being declines at this time of year. Even more concerning, Forbes reveals that 41% 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲—𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟—𝐚𝐧𝐝 23% 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬. As leaders and employers, it’s important to be mindful of the extra pressure our teams may be facing. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: ⭐𝑺𝒆𝒕 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: Be realistic about performance expectations, considering the added challenges that come with this busy time of year. ⭐𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 & 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚: Help your team manage their workloads by offering flexibility to balance both personal and professional commitments. Check In with Employees Regularly: A simple check-in can go a long way in easing stress and showing your team you care. ⭐𝑬𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒍𝒇-𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆: Remind employees to take care of themselves—whether it’s taking a break or spending time with loved ones. ⭐𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: A heartfelt "thank you" can do wonders for boosting morale and reminding your team that their efforts are valued. ⭐𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑶𝒇𝒇: Ensure employees can fully unplug during their time off without the pressure of work lingering over them. 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬—it’s about 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. Let’s prioritise well-being, spread kindness, and set our teams up for a successful new year.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟰 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲. 🦃 Arguments Supporting a 4-Day Thanksgiving Weekend Improved Work-Life Balance: ✅ A longer holiday provides employees with a meaningful break to spend with family and friends, reducing burnout. It aligns with the spirit of Thanksgiving, a time for gratitude and togetherness. Economic Boost: ✅ A 4-day weekend can encourage travel and increase consumer spending on shopping (e.g., Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday). Hospitality, retail, and tourism sectors often see a surge in revenue during this period. Productivity Gains: ✅ Studies show that well-rested employees often return to work more motivated and productive. It can help to boost morale and reduce absenteeism during the holiday season. Educational Alignment: ✅ Schools often give students a 4-day break, so aligning work holidays with school schedules benefits families. #humanresources #thanksgiving2024 #employeebenefits
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As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach, we all look forward to days off—but let’s be real, the work doesn’t stop. The to-do list piles up, and balancing work and personal time can feel impossible. Forbes Human Resources Council recently asked 18 other leaders and me to share our best tips for managing this tricky balance during the holiday season. My advice? Focus on what’s most important. Each day, write down the one top priority that will make the biggest impact and commit to it. There’s always a lot of noise but remember: 80% of the value often comes from just 20% of your effort. Prioritize that one thing and let everything else fall into place. Curious about the other 18 insights? Check out the article to discover more practical tips to navigate the holiday crunch while staying sane and productive! How do you balance work and personal time during the holidays? Let me know in the comments! https://lnkd.in/gddXPyhW
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The holidays can bring joy and celebration - and for employees with year-end deadlines or quotas, more stress and anxiety. Here are 7 ways you can help your team members feel better this holiday season.
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🎄 Managing Change During the Holiday Season 🎄 The holiday season can be one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year for organizations and employees alike. Introducing change during this period—whether it's new processes, team structures, or technology—requires extra care to ensure it’s effective and well-received. Here’s how to manage change effectively during the holidays: 1️⃣ Communicate Early and Often Transparency is key. Let employees know what’s changing, why, and how it will impact them. Use clear, concise messaging and multiple channels to keep everyone informed. 2️⃣ Prioritize Employee Wellbeing The holidays can be emotionally and physically taxing. Be mindful of employee stress levels and consider pacing the change rollout to avoid burnout. 3️⃣ Focus on Small, Impactful Wins Rather than tackling massive initiatives, prioritize changes that bring immediate value. Demonstrating quick wins can boost morale and build trust. 4️⃣ Celebrate and Recognize Contributions Change is hard, and employees who embrace it deserve recognition. Celebrate their efforts and highlight their contributions to building a stronger future for the organization. 5️⃣ Plan for Flexibility The holidays come with time off, reduced schedules, and unpredictable challenges. Build contingency plans and be prepared to adapt as needed. Remember, successful change management is as much about timing and empathy as it is about strategy. Leading with care during the holiday season sets the tone for a positive transition and builds goodwill with your team. #ChangeManagement #Leadership #HRStrategy #EmployeeEngagement
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Holiday Motivation: Leading with Empathy and Purpose. The holiday season is a unique time in the workplace. For some, it’s filled with joy and excitement, while for others, it can bring challenges—personally and professionally. As leaders, understanding this duality is key to keeping our teams motivated and supported. So, how do we inspire and uplift teammates during the holidays? It starts with recognizing that motivation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some employees may feel the pull of family responsibilities, while others may feel isolated or disconnected during this season. Both perspectives matter, and as leaders, our role is to meet our teams where they are. Here are some ways to make a difference: Acknowledge and Appreciate: A simple “thank you” or acknowledgment of their efforts can go a long way in making teammates feel valued. Create Flexibility: Offer opportunities for work-life balance, such as adjusted schedules, to ease the pressures of the season. Foster Inclusivity: Celebrate in ways that honor diverse traditions and make everyone feel seen and included. Provide Support: For those who may find the holidays difficult, consider creating moments of connection, such as team lunches or small acts of kindness. Remember, the holidays mean something different to everyone. Lead with empathy, be mindful of your team’s unique needs, and show that you care—not just about the work they do, but about who they are. By doing so, we can create a workplace culture that inspires and uplifts, not just during the holidays, but all year round.
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🌟 Leading through the festive season The holiday season is magical—but it’s also a whirlwind. For leaders, the challenge lies in keeping teams motivated, balancing deadlines with holiday cheer, and ensuring time is managed effectively. Here are some tips to lead with purpose during this festive, fast-paced time. 1️⃣ Sprinkle in Some Festive Motivation It’s no secret that the holidays can be distracting. Use the season to your advantage by finding ways to uplift and energize your team. Organize a holiday-themed team-building activity—like a virtual gingerbread house-building contest or a festive potluck. Recognize individual contributions with personal notes or small tokens of appreciation. A little acknowledgment goes a long way to keeping spirits high while also reinforcing everyone’s value. 2️⃣ Balance the Workload and the Cheer Striking a balance between productivity and celebration is key. Take a hard look at deadlines and reassess priorities—can some projects wait until January? Encourage flexibility where possible, such as allowing team members to shuffle hours for holiday plans. At the same time, cultivate moments of togetherness, like a shared coffee break to swap holiday stories or traditions. This balance ensures no one feels overburdened or disconnected. 3️⃣ Own Your Time (and Help Others Do the Same) Time can slip away faster than a snowman in the sun. Model strong time management by setting clear expectations and sticking to them. Use shared calendars to prevent last-minute scheduling chaos. More importantly, encourage your team to take well-deserved breaks and fully unplug when they do. Show them that a restored mind leads to better results—long after the twinkling lights come down. Great leadership during the holidays means creating space for joy, connection, and focus. This is the season to inspire, not control—to lead your team with empathy, strategy, and just a touch of holiday magic. #festiveleadership #leadingwithjoy #teammotivation
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The holiday season is in full swing, and while it’s a time of joy and celebration, it can also be challenging to stay motivated and focused at work. Between the influx of PTO, shortened work weeks, and the holiday hustle, productivity can slow down, especially as many of your colleagues take time off. But here’s the silver lining: when most people are out, you have an opportunity to use this quieter period to your advantage! Here are some ways to stay productive, focused, and motivated: Prioritize and Plan: Reassess your current tasks and prioritize what needs to be done. Adjust your goals to reflect the limited availability of team members, ensuring you’re still moving forward without feeling overwhelmed. Set Realistic Expectations: Be kind to yourself and your team. The holiday season isn't business as usual, so set realistic expectations for what you can achieve. Engage in Personal Development: Use this quieter time to invest in yourself. Learn a new skill, complete an online course, or read up on the latest trends in your field. This is time well spent that can pay off big when the new year begins. Connect & Reflect: Reach out to your team members who are working and schedule short check-ins. Reflect on your successes and areas for improvement from the past year and think about what you want to achieve in the year ahead. Maintain Balance: Don’t forget to take breaks and enjoy the season! Balanced work leads to sustainable productivity and keeps your energy levels up. The holidays are meant to be a time of reflection and recharge. By approaching this season with a balanced, mindful strategy, you can stay motivated and turn a potentially slower period into an opportunity for growth. 💡 How do you stay productive during the holiday season? Share your tips and strategies below!
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