Holidays with a remote team can be a difficult time. With nearly 20 different holidays happening from October to February, there’s a lot to celebrate. However, the end of the fiscal year calls for hard work and dedication. Amid the fun, there’s a lot to get done.
To keep your team engaged, you may have to try a combination of factors. Some employees may be dedicated to meeting their goals while having fun. Other employees may need help focusing and managing their time. Read this article to find out five ways to navigate the holidays with a remote team.
Table of Contents
1. Set Expectations
Regardless of the time of the year, it’s important that your team clearly knows what is expected of them. With employees taking time off or working flexible hours, responsibilities and deadlines can get muddled. Setting clear expectations ahead of time can help your team function efficiently, even during the holiday craziness. Expectation-setting can look like individualized meetings or a general conversation amongst the team.
A one-on-one meeting can entail creating a personalized plan for working from home and requesting time off. Whereas a company town hall may prioritize setting general expectations like values, deadlines, goals, and team energy. Creating a meeting agenda for these gatherings can help provide structure and clarity for your employees. In addition, it can give your team something to refer to when they’re trying to remember the priorities for Q4.
2. Plan a Virtual Party
The holidays are a fun and festive time of year. Whether someone is celebrating Los Posadas, Christmas, or both, there’s ways to make your virtual party inclusive. Keep your theme neutral with something like winter wonderland or an ugly sweater party. Virtual parties can encourage camaraderie and lightheartedness during a chaotic time. Hosting a thoughtful event can show your employees that you care about them as people first.
Block some time on your employee’s calendars and let the good times flow. Organize virtual games for teams to compete against each other. Have prizes for the best-dressed and game winners. You could even host a virtual home office decorating contest. Whatever you choose, be sure to engage your team leaders in the planning process. If you get them excited, they can help build the energy for their teams.
3. Focus on the Little Things
With a virtual team, the little things matter even more. Go out of your way to wish your team well for a variety of holidays. This will make those on your team celebrating non-traditional holidays feel special. If possible, encourage your employees to attend their children’s holiday parties and take advantage of flexible work hours. The flexibility can create greater commitment from your employees long-term.
Try setting up reminders to send extra communication to your team during this time. Calendar alerts can be a great way to incorporate consistent outreach into your schedule. In fact, be sure to give heightened feedback during this time. With colleagues on different schedules, you don’t want individuals to slip through the cracks and feel alienated from the team. Your thoughtfulness will go a long way.
4. Send Snail Mail
Not every employer can afford to send a gift basket full of top shelf liquor to their employees. If lofty gifts or bonuses aren’t doable, think about how to show your appreciation in a different way. A simple handwritten card can show that you took the time to acknowledge them this season.
Skip the logo koozies and coasters this season. Instead, consider mailing a family holiday box to your team. Pick your favorite festive movie on DVD or include a giftcard to a theater near them. Grab a multipack of popcorn and a couple movie theater candy boxes or hot cocoa. You could throw in a box of playing cards or a mini board game. The goal is to include items they can use to have a fun evening with family. Pack the items into a box with a signed card wishing their family a happy holiday. They won’t forget this sweet gift.
5. Organize a Gift Exchange
A traditional white elephant gift exchange usually brings lots of laughter. And, sometimes, a little friendly competition. Although this game can be tricky when turned virtual, it could still be a lot of fun. Employees should grab the weirdest items from around their house to participate with. If this doesn’t sound like something your team would enjoy, try a legit gift exchange. A fun spin to a virtual exchange could look two different ways: secret Santa style or locally loved.
For virtual secret Santa, you could assign employees their recipient. Be sure to do so in plenty of time for them to mail the gifts before your party. Then, during your event, everyone could participate in the opening of each other’s gifts. “Locally loved” could be items from the giver’s hometown. Because your virtual team is likely from around the country, this could be a unique way to team build. (Tip: Help cover the cost of shipping for those who might need it.)
With endless opportunities to stay connected during this holiday season, it’s equally important to unplug. Encourage your employees to spend time with their families. Create clear expectations up front so that employees understand deadlines and responsibilities. When possible, let them know that there’s flexibility in how they finish tasks. Your employees will thank you for making their holiday season great.
