I used to work at a place that liked to surprise us by letting us out early the day before a holiday. Except they did it every year, so it was not much of a surprise. The only element of surprise was that each year the time was a little bit different (though I am not sure this was meant to be a surprise as much as it was the result of what happened when the boss remembered to send the email). Some years it was an hour or two early. Other years it was right after lunch. One year the email went out by 11:00am. And one fateful, horrible year, our boss forgot to send the email altogether and we ended up working the full day.
This element of surprise is intended to add a sense of excitement, I suppose, during a season filled with joy and wonder, but in the working world, it mostly ends up adding to an already increased level of uncertainty during a stressful and busy season with lots to plan and lots to plan around. Not knowing when this extra time off will come and for how long it will be defeats the purpose of being able to use the time well. The true gift would be in knowing ahead of time what to expect and being able to plan accordingly. The sacrifice of the surprise would come at the benefit of enjoying the gift of clarity and time.
With another holiday season upon us, I ask you to consider removing the element of surprise from your celebration and appreciation plans and instead give your staff the gift of clarity and certainty. Let them know exactly what to expect from you this season (and always) and focus on their needs rather than your own.
EVALUATIONS
Many organizations are doing away with traditional year-end evaluations. You may be one of them. Perhaps you still do them but in a different way. Or maybe you are still doing them in the most traditional sense. Whatever the case may be for you, make sure it is clear to your team, ideally from the moment they start working with you. Everyone should have a clear understanding of how their performance is assessed and what this means for their advancement and their money. Let them know the processes and tools involved and continue to discuss all pertinent information with them throughout the year. Then, whatever the end of the year process is, make sure it is a recap of what you have been already discussing throughout the year with an opportunity to plan for the year to come. This is not the time for surprises or to unleash all that you could have or should have been sharing throughout the year.
BONUSES
People need to know about their money, and it should never be a surprise when they are receiving it and most especially when they are not. People plan around end of the year raises and bonuses, especially when they have grown to expect them. Make sure people are fully aware what raises and bonuses look like at the end of the year, how much they will be, and when they will go into effect. No surprises here. People need to plan accordingly. If there is something extra on top of what people are expecting, by all means, surprise away. But if something is less than what they are expecting or if there is some extenuating circumstance that is reducing that expectation and / or delaying when they will be receiving it, give them as much notice as you can.
Transparency is essential for effective leadership and this is perhaps never truer than when it comes to other people’s money. Let people know what to expect so they can plan accordingly.
TIME OFF
This is a common time of year for people to take time off. Make sure your policies are clear about who can take time off when, what your processes are, etc. If you plan to close down the office early or even for a day or two (or more), give people time to plan accordingly so they can take full advantage of the extra time off. Yes, surprises are fun, but it is more fun to be able to take full advantage of time off, and for that to happen, it needs to be made known ahead of time.
GIFTS
Every year around this time, social media is flooded with posts asking complete strangers what to buy for coworkers, bosses, board members, volunteers, and staff. Why they think a stranger would know better is beyond me. There also seems to be a need to purchase something someone can unwrap. Yes, the act of literally presenting someone with something they can open has a certain warmth to it, but for most staff, there is not much value to it. Coffee mugs, bathrobes, and other types of company swag simply cannot compete with the two things most people want from their jobs for the holidays- money and time off. Take the pressure off gift giving and instead give people what they really want.
At the same time, be clear about the expectations around gift giving in the workplace. No one should be expected to buy gifts for anyone above them, and no one should be expected to pay out of pocket for anyone. Do not put anyone in a position to be embarrassed either by not buying a gift when everyone else does or by buying a gift when nobody else does. Set clear expectations and make it a time of celebration and recognition, not financial burden and obligation.
PARTIES
If you do have a celebration, and there is always a good reason to celebrate, be sure to have it on company time and dime. Do not expect people to contribute either on their own. Let people know what to expect around dress, food, alcohol, etc. so they can plan accordingly. Again, this is meant to be fun but that does not mean it needs to be a surprise. People like to know what to expect when they are being asked to attend something, especially as it pertains to their job so let them know what they need to know and do not add additional burdens to their calendars or budgets.
Yes, the holidays are filled with reasons to celebrate and that can and should include celebrating at work too. But celebrating and recognizing your team should be done in a way that makes them feel celebrated and recognized. It does not require an element of surprise. Instead, be clear and transparent about how you will celebrate them and what they can expect in terms of their time and money so they can plan accordingly. It might take a bit of the mystery out of it, but it will add a lot more peace of mind and I assure you, your staff will be all the more grateful for it.
