Christmas! A! A! A!
As another year draws to a close with this edition of Content & Technology, there is nothing more satisfying than to be able to finish on a high, positioning you and your business, or employer, in a highly receptive mode for 2007!This is without doubt the most influential time on the calendar for any business!
There are many considerations, from closure of projects with clients to booking the Christmas party. Oops, did that one slip under the radar? (Best book today)
OK, let’s cover the Christmas party for the moment. It’s the ‘full stop’ at the end of a sentence reflecting the year’s activities.
It doesn’t have to be a full on lavish event with the company’s credit card maxed out, it can simply be a small gathering at the end of the year at the office or at a modest venue. Point is, it’s not where you hold it, nor the dollars spent on it, but how you manage the event.
Now I’m not going to ramble on how to orchestrate a Christmas party, but I will stress the importance of addressing the past year by management to their employees at a point on the calendar.
This is without doubt a time of the year that runs parallel importance to exit interviewing someone from your employ. Remember, this is the full stop at the end of the years sentence, and no different to the financial controller’s financial full stop at the end of each financial year.
I draw the similarity to an exit interview simply because in most cases there will be an abundance of staff exiting the business for a pre-determined period, away from the fold and security of their employ. We spend on average 70-85% of our waking hours, Monday to Friday (that is if anyone is working just Monday to Friday), with our work colleagues than our families.
Moving out of our cocoon to spend 100 percent of our time with families and friends during annual leave is a real culture shock when it occurs! So it’s no surprise that there’s mixed feelings at this time of the year.
AAA YOUR STAFF
Whether it’s at the Christmas party or on a one-to-one interaction will depend upon the organization and the culture, but suffice to say this is the time for employers to ‘AAA’ their staff.
This is a relatively new management technique that stands for Acknowledge, Accept and Appreciate.
Its value is recognized when addressing long service leave, extended leave, or with a calendar event when a significant number of staff are temporarily departing.
When this occurs, your staff should be able to take a sense of value and ownership with them when they temporarily depart. This is a key reference point that ensures their return, refreshed and keen to greet another year.
Here’s How it Works
The technique is best employed with key individuals who have impacted in a positive way to the business. Give them an insight into the future of the company, ‘Acknowledge’ the direction it’s taking, seek and ‘Accept’ their feedback and finally give a sense of ‘Appreciation’.
This is a two way conversation, so ensure that you both have a better understanding of why you are targeting the same goal.
Let’s face it. If they are ‘AAA’ rated in your books then you’ll both look forward to returning to work after the break!
Most importantly, it opens the pathway to a fluid level of communication that will be accepted by one and adopted by all.
The ‘AAA’ is an initiating technique, a drone that once it’s exposed will survive in a flow-on effect, throughout all tiers, throughout the year.
Unlike other activities and techniques, if it loses momentum at any time, it’s revisited regularly at least every 12 months.
It survives as its non-threatening, undocumented and doesn’t attach itself to performance issues hence pay implications. It’s a forum in which ideas are expressed and direction is attained.
To ‘AAA’ a group for example at a Christmas party, an abridged version is all that’s required, not a long winded tirade on the company that’s sounding like a political speech.
Timing is important, so only you will know when it’s best to ‘AAA’ the group. Suffice to say, it’s best not to ‘brake’ the flow of the event, so initiate your ‘AAA’ while everyone is in a receptive mood and state of mind.
Make it relatively short, positive and humorous, and if you have an announcement that carries good news, then finish on a high.
To cliché the obvious, people are your biggest asset. Notwithstanding the value of productivity within the work environment it is fuelled by a melting pot of ideas that encapsulate and embody the essence of those working there.
Make this Christmas a time for giving and receiving.
posted by Karl Jansson @ 7:11 PM
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