Why Holiday Parties Are Not a Waste of Time

Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik on Unsplash

The winter holiday season is almost here. With most of us working virtually and avoiding crowds, we may be tempted to cancel holiday parties this year.

Many people view these as fun events that give us a nice break from work, but not an essential part of operations. Others think they are a waste of time and are happy for the excuse not to have a holiday party this year.

However, these parties play a significant role in building team resilience, and leaders would benefit from prioritizing their success. While it may be more challenging to have a safe and, most likely, virtual holiday party this year, it’s worth the effort.

Here’s how a holiday party contributes to team resilience:

Culture

The annual holiday party can become a part of a shared identity, with staff taking pride in presenting their office to others. The positive stories from a successful party become part of the shared history. New employees are brought into this shared history by helping to organize and then participating in the event.

Connections

Connections are built across an office, not just at the event itself but, even more important, through the committees and working groups that organize items such as food, decorations and clean up. The best committees have members from various divisions within an office. By working together on a shared goal, employees get to know each other. They will then have much better connections later on when collaboration may be more challenging.

Commitment

Parties give managers an excellent opportunity to show their commitment by helping with party set-up, breaking down, contributing food and drink, or paying for decorations or entertainment. Managers who show up and actively engage with staff communicate that they are committed to the people who work for them.

Consideration

These parties provide an opportunity to invite guests to whom you are grateful. Invite your professional contacts and colleagues from other offices who've helped you throughout the year as a way of saying thanks. Parties that are welcoming and inclusive show community members how much you value them.

So, instead of canceling this year’s holiday party, put a committee together to figure out how to host a virtual party or a safe in-person event.

What are your thoughts on holiday parties? How have you seen them contribute to team resilience?

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To learn more about how you and your team can thrive in adversity, visit my website, and follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

How to Create a Culture of Gratitude in Your Workplace

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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so it's a good time to think about gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful resilience-building tool in both our personal and work lives.

Research consistently shows that workplace appreciation improves employee engagement and boosts performance. Gratitude also promotes stronger social connections between employees, one of the 7Cs of team resilience.

Despite the benefits gratitude brings to the workplace, a recent survey by Peldon Rose found that less than half (45 percent) of employees feel appreciated at work.

Here are some ways you can increase gratitude in your workplace:

Carve Out the Time

When asked why they don't express appreciation to their work colleagues, people often tell me that they are so busy they forget. They have good intentions but don't follow through.

If you struggle to find the time to express your gratitude to colleagues, build it into your routine. Schedule ten minutes on your calendar every day to write thank-you notes. Add a five-minute agenda item in weekly staff meetings to thank employees to whom you are grateful. Schedule a weekly coffee with colleagues to thank them for the work they do.

Face Your Fears

Some leaders are worried that showing appreciation will communicate that they are weak and too emotional. Others fear that employees will start to feel entitled and expect recognition for routine work. If you have these fears, it's essential to acknowledge them and then remind yourself that research shows otherwise. Employees value leaders who express appreciation and gratitude, and it rarely undermines performance. Have the courage to act despite your fears.

Be Authentic

Gratitude can have a negative impact if it is not authentic. Don't pretend, lie, or invent reasons to express gratitude. If you offer gratitude for purely cynical or instrumental reasons, it's unlikely to work. Small tokens of appreciation may feel artificial and forced if there's no substance behind them. To be authentic when you express gratitude, explain what the person did and its positive impact on you.

Adapt to Each Employee

Gratitude is not one size fits all. Don't assume that everyone responds well to public praise or a thank you card. Get to know your colleagues and adapt to their needs and preferences. Consultant Stephanie Pollack compiled dozens of different gratitude practices to try at work, from surprise care packages to appreciation badges to a celebration calendar.

Create a Gratitude Wall

Gratitude walls have become very popular because they encourage employees to acknowledge their gratitude for each other publicly. Whether it's a quick thanks to a colleague for bringing in baked goods or a new employee feeling welcomed by others, the idea is to complement each other's contributions and acts of kindness and generosity. This YouTube video describes how to create a virtual gratitude wall for those working from home. 

How do you encourage gratitude at your workplace?

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To learn more about how you and your team can thrive in adversity, visit my website, and follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Why the Nationals Won the World Series

I've been a fan of the Washington Nationals for over twelve years, ever since they built their stadium a few blocks from my home. I watched them struggle in the early years, but they slowly assembled a team filled with skilled players.

Even with excellent athletes, they’d get close to greatness and then crumble under pressure.

A decade of disappointments seemed to wear the team down, and they started the 2019 season with some of their worst performances in years. Who could blame them? They'd lost star player Bryce Harper to rival Phillies, they struggled with injuries, and their bullpen was horrible.

They appeared to have settled into being a good but not great team.

Then, Gerardo Parra joined the team in May. He brought with him the magic that gave the Nationals their first championship title - joy and laughter. Parra chose Baby Shark, a silly children’s song, as his walk-up music and inspired thousands of fans to sing along. He got his teammates to dance in the bullpen and wore ridiculous glasses that made everyone laugh. Parra didn't focus on winning; he just wanted to have fun.

And, then, the Nats starting winning. They went from having the third-worst record in Major League Baseball to the third best. They won the wild-card game against the Brewers and then beat the Dodgers with a 10th-inning grand slam to win the division. They went on to slaughter the Cardinals 4 to 0 to secure the National League pennant. After losing three World Series games in a row in Washington DC, they returned to Houston and played world-class baseball.

As I watched game seven from the Nationals Stadium in D.C., I saw one of the best examples of resilience I've ever seen. The Nats trailed the Astros most of the game. In the seventh inning, they exploded with energy, making six runs in three innings to clinch the championship. 

Last week, I posted a blog on how laughter improves resilience. The Nationals showed us what merriment and silliness do for a team. If your team is struggling and you're looking for a way to boost collaboration, cohesiveness, and effectiveness, inject the group with laughter. Encourage play and light-hearted joking. If you have a team clown or two, recognize their value and encourage their silliness and childlike antics. Don't take yourselves too seriously and have fun. Play Baby Shark and dance!

Let the Washington Nationals, the 2019 World Series champions, inspire your team to greatness through the power of having fun!

Tell me why you think the Washington Nationals won the World Series in my blog comments.

I help individuals and teams thrive in adversity by providing practical skills and tools I developed over several decades as a U.S. diplomat in challenging environments. Visit my website to learn more about how I can help you and your team better adapt to stress and adversity. With resilience skills and tools, you and your team will be more creative, innovative, and collaborative. Resilient individuals and teams are less likely to suffer from burnout and are more open to change. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter at @payneresilience.