For many companies, increasing employee morale and maintaining high levels of engagement and motivation among team members during the dark winter months can be quite a challenge. In a growing remote work environment, it is even more difficult to ensure that your team remains engaged and productive while having time to self-care. To help, 11 entrepreneurs on the Young Entrepreneur Council reflect on the following question:
What’s your best advice to keep your team motivated and productive during the dark winter months? Why is it effective?
1. Maintain communication and recognition
Maintain constant communication and create a collaborative work environment and also understand the processes that are carried out by each team member. This will boost productivity as they will see that their efforts and the continuity of their actions are recognized and valued by executives and a commitment to compliance is established. – Kevin Leyes, Leyes Media
2. Don’t lose track of your goals
One way to stay productive and motivate the team over the winter is to keep track of goals and find more incentives to get strong. Team building activities are also a good idea for people to reconnect and remind them of core company values and the “why” of your company. – Alfredo Atanacio, Uassist.ME
3. Improve employee morale through team building activities
Even virtually, team building activities can help your team increase their motivation and boost their productivity. These things are easy to lose in the dreary winter months, but when others encourage you and work with you, it becomes even easier to stay focused and on track. – Stephanie Wells, impressive shapes
4. Switch to a four day week
A great way to motivate remote workers during the winter months is to cut your week down to a four-day work week. In other words, everyone is expected to do the same amount of work they did in the office, but with the commute completely eliminated, they must do it in four days. If they can, they can take Friday off. This system blames people for all those pesky cat videos. – Han-Gwon Lung, customized ink
5. Promote positive collaboration
Use unique digital software tools to have a positive collaboration experience. Zoom meetings can be a chore after a while, and team members can be burned out. Encourage virtual team building exercises or virtual events on a weekly or monthly basis. – Jordan Edelson, Appetizer Mobile LLC
6. Offer bonuses and rewards
Bonuses are always a good motivator in the winter months. I think that you can make the season fun and interesting by adding other types of rewards that are monetary and non-monetary as well. For example, take part in a competition called “Best Zoom Background” or a similar competition and give away swag tokens as a gift. A few seasonal activities can also make a big difference. – Blair Williams, Member Press
7. Recommend much-needed light to them
Encourage them to get as much light as possible from the sun or an appropriate therapy lamp. In places like Florida, whenever possible, encourage them to take regular walks or bike rides and visit local parks on the weekends. In places with freezing winters, you can use heat and therapy lamps to avoid seasonal mood disorders. Plan safe trips to enjoy the snow. – Duran Inci, Optimum 7
8. Encourage them to stay active
My aim is to stay active! Even if my team is working from home, I encourage them to take a walk on their lunch breaks or move around the space they have. We’re a small team and we work best when we’re all in an energetic, creative mood – it’s crucial that the blood flow! – Diana Goodwin, MarketBox
9. Offer flexible hours to improve employee morale
Allow flexible working hours to meet people’s needs. People are not meant to work under fluorescent light, and most people would prefer to have some free time during the day. Allow staff to change their work schedules to exercise or play with their kids when it’s light. We postponed our work hours to start earlier and left out daylight saving time so we can stay productive by taking into account our body’s circadian rhythms. – Matt Wilson, Under30 Experiences
10. Promote healthy eating
Winter is a lazy season. However, if you don’t want your team to feel even more lazy and less productive, encourage them to eat healthily. When you eat unhealthy foods that are high in sugar and fats, you can feel lazy and unproductive. Also drink plenty of hot water, soups, tea or something warm. This will keep your body warm and help you stay active during the day. – Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
11. Focus on the joyful aspects of the season
There are foods, feasts and changes in the environment that only happen in winter. Celebrate these things by holding thematic meetings or sharing family pictures and the like. It will make the dark winter months something to look forward to. -Syed Balkhi, WP Beginner
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