Getting Rid of the Summer Doldrums
Five tips to make sure that come Labor Day your boss won't be screaming about the lack of progress on that major client project.
Five tips to make sure that come Labor Day your boss won't be screaming about the lack of progress on that major client project.
Stuck in the office when everyone else is on the beach? Stuck at work when no one is there to move things forward? Every project you have moving slowly because some key decision-maker is on vacation?
Welcome to summer in the office. Whether a startup or corporate America, we all feel it. Those dreaded dog days, when all you can think about is how soon you can get out of work. No one is making decisions, no new employees are starting, and the break room is a ghost town.
So, how do you get your groove back? How do you make sure that come Labor Day, your boss won’t be screaming about the lack of progress on that major client project? Here are five tips to get you going:
For those of you in management, these things send a great mesasge to your staff: that you want them to grow, and are giving time on the company dime to do it. For most of us, these are the things that we all think we know, but it helps to keep our industry knowledge current. And be sure to let your boss know that you are working on improving your professional self. Write a note with tips you learned at that webinar.
SUBJ: Did you know that eating spicy food can cool you down?
BODY: This is because spicy food can make you sweat without raising your body temperature. Once your skin is damp, you feel cooled by its evaporation. Since we are in the middle of a heat wave in NYC, I thought I’d share this fun fact.
Now, wouldn’t that get your attention? She also gave tips such as wearing guayabera or seersucker, cooling your pulse points, and grazing vs. eating heavy protein-laden meals. It worked!
And , for those of you in leadership positions: be a role model. Seeing your boss slack off is like having a substitute teacher in school. Show your staff that you’re making it happen over the summer. Run a summer incentive, maybe even beta test that wild idea, to encourage your employees to be productive. Acknowledge those employees who are here keeping things rolling along. Besides the obvious bonus, email recognition can be a powerful tool. Most of your employees on vacation will probably check their email every now and then, so that recognition can be seen by everyone. And don’t forget the little things: surprise them with ice cream on that hot day.
So, how are things in your office? Anything getting done in the dog days of summer? You just punching the clock or are you using your time wisely? Hope these tips keep you motivated and moving forward.
Image on home page via Shutterstock.