So it’s Christmas, is it?

Look, it doesn’t really matter whether you love Christmas or like me , are made a little queasy by the rampant consumerism, the truly ghastly music and the being thrown together for uncomfortable period with people you may not choose to be with.

But, I’m not here to talk to you about your personal feelings about Christmas. I’m here to get you to think about what this time of year can symbolise for your team.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and again). Never miss an excuse to congratulate your people for the effort they’ve put in, the results they’ve achieved and even the things they’ve really tried and not quite succeeded at.

If you look at how you feel right now. If you’re like me, you’re almost limping to the end of the year. Although we might have thought that now we are not in a pandemic, the long-term effects seem almost as bad as being in the middle of it. I’m not talking about Long COVID, which is a whole other thing.

What I am talking about is how the COVID years seem to have left so many of us hollowed out. It’s hard to put your finger on it, but everything seems just a bit off. Why am I feeling so tired? Where’s my motivation? Why is everyone unsettled and why are they getting on each other’s nerves so much quicker than normal?

I can’t answer those questions scientifically and I also have no time for the conspiracy crap that surrounds the subject, but what I can speak with some confidence about is that no matter how you personally viewed COVID, as a society and around the world we have suffered a collective trauma.

The fact is, something happened which completely upended the lives of just about everyone and the only time that usually happens is when there is an actual war and we have plenty of evidence about what effect that has on societies. The pandemic was like a war because a lot of people got hurt and a lot died and worse, we didn’t know who those people were likely to be.

More importantly we didn’t have anyone we could point a gun at and shoot “the bad guy”.

OK, enough about COVID. All that needs to be remembered is that it has left society and individuals diminished and more vulnerable.

As a business owner and leader, you can have a profound impact on this. Don’t be Pollyanna and try and make everything “lovely”. That’s dishonest and disingenuous and will do more harm than good.

Speak to your team members at the level they’re at. You will have observed what kind of emotional state they are individually in, or you should if you’ve been paying attention.

Find a moment to talk to each of them one-on-one. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation. It is really to achieve one simple goal. “I see you, I know who you are, where you’re at, what you’ve achieved this year and most importantly, how much I value you as someone who works with and for me and as a person in your own right.”

Why would you do this? Because if there is one thing that comes naturally in any business, it is this. When the chips are down and things are tough, The Boss is usually the target for all bitterness and resentment. Anything that isn’t going right, even if it has nothing to do with work can somehow land on your shoulders.

I didn’t say it’s fair, just that it’s a thing. You can help shape the narrative and help your team members to recalibrate their own thinking about life and work by giving that precious gift of a little bit of time, a little bit of genuine acknowledgement and a little bit of compassion.

Trust me. This costs absolutely nothing and pays rich dividends. It won’t make you Santa or Jesus, but it will make you someone who knows how to read a room and make a difference in the lives of others.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Eid al-Fitr. As an atheist, I’m unconcerned about what you celebrate but I do feel strongly that this is the time of year to practice being a better human being.

If you’d like to talk about strengthening your business, doing better with your people, or anything that keeps nagging your mind over the break, I’m around and available for a relaxed, no-obligation conversation. It could be a Zoom call, a phone call, over a cup of coffee or maybe a different cleansing beverage. Your call will always be welcome.

John Luxton +64 275 665 682 john.luxton@regenerationhq.co.nz