Depending on which sector you are in, things often slow down in the lead up to Christmas and there is a risk that those weeks are spent treading water as we keenly anticipate our seasonal break. What is worse, there is danger that we lose both momentum and motivation, ending the year on a flat, downbeat note.

However, the lull before the festivities presents a great opportunity to step back, consider how the year has gone, what has been achieved and then regroup with renewed energy and new objectives for the coming year. It is a good time also to nurture existing relationships both with customers and colleagues, and to celebrate the year’s successes.

We’ve put together some tips for staying motivated and productive in the lull before the holiday period.

1. Step back and take a fresh perspective – There is no better time to assess the year’s achievements and identify areas for improvement. Identifying shortfalls and refining your approach ensures you are growing as a business and creates an environment in which your staff can learn and grow too.

2. Create new and improved strategies – This period gives you the opportunity to refresh your approach to benefit your business, improve results and also stimulate your teams. Challenging staff with new objectives and projects will keep them motivated, encourage them to learn new skills and fully utilise existing skillsets.
    

3. Encourage teamwork – We naturally feed off the energy of those around us, so take time to unify goals across all business functions to encourage cross-team collaboration. Use any downtime to get staff to brainstorm ideas for the coming year and identify projects they’d like to be involved with. An increased element of teamwork and shared objectives will help energise and motivate your teams when they return to the office.
    

4. Celebrate – Whether it’s a small get together or a large event, celebrating the achievements of the past year is the perfect way to use any quiet time and a great way to reward your teams. Acknowledging hard work and celebrating success is a brilliant way to drive motivation in the last part of the year.
    

5. Catch up – Using the slower business periods to get on top of those jobs that have been accumulating over time will create a sense of control and accomplishment as you put to bed tasks you’ve been avoiding. Knowing that you’ll come back to a decluttered workspace and a fresh mind, ready to take on new ventures will help keep you motivated.
    

6. Nurture customer relationships – In busy times, with pressure to meet targets, we often forget to create time for a more personal touch. With the predominance of digital/virtual interactions, our interactions are less personal than ever. A quiet period is the perfect opportunity to check in with valued clients, thank them for their business and find out how the year has gone for them. Not only will this solidify the relationship, it will provide valuable insight to help nurture deeper engagement in the coming year.

Much of our focus throughout the year is helping our clients build relationships, deepen engagement and draw valuable insights from their customer and prospect base. Whether thanking clients for their business at the end of the year or kick-starting new relationships with a tailored welcome call programme, get in touch to find out how we can add a personal touch to your sales and marketing strategy.

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