Five ways to create a culture of “unwind” at the end of the year

As I finish my first very busy yet rewarding year here at Elanco, I find myself looking forward to the holiday break, to not only catch up on some overdue chores and clean out my inbox, but also to slow down and take stock of the year. I also wonder, as leaders, what can we do to help our teams unwind, recharge, and get ready for the new challenges ahead?  Here are a few of my reflections:

1. Model healthy behavior. As leaders, we are trained to demonstrate sound business behavior, but those same roadmaps don’t exist for our team’s emotional health. And, I’d be the first one to admit, leaders are often the worst offenders when it comes to prioritizing down time. If employees see you working through vacations, they will feel as if that’s the expectation, even if it is unspoken. Use your vacation. Relax. Get some sleep. You’ll be better for it, and your employees will be able to breathe a little easier without feeling the need to respond to a flurry of emails from you.
2. Take time to celebrate with your team. Having an event –a sit down lunch, a potluck dinner–is an important signal that we are putting a period at the end of this year. It’s also a great time to celebrate successes of the year and of each other.  Share memorable moments of the year that are about to end; relay hopes and dreams for the new year. Creating common memories, and verbalizing recognition of each other’s successes is about more than just bonding – it paves the way to engagement.  Put some thought into these end-of-the year events. It is up to the leader to create an event that is thoughtful and enjoyable, so it’s not just another obligatory office function.
3.  Give gifts that encourage down time. I love giving books as gifts. I mean, made-of-paper-needs-a-bookmark books. Because in this age of being constantly “on,” there’s something indulgent in sitting down with a cup of tea and turning pages. This year I gave my lead team a copy of the book “Multipliers” by Liz Wiseman, which discusses how the best leaders create other leaders, not followers. Which leads me to #4….
4. Set your team up for a growth mindset. Nothing gets you ready to tackle what’s in front of you like a fresh outlook. So, at the end of the year, I look to spark self-reflection by introducing a handful of leadership concepts that I’d love my team to take on. This doesn’t have to be a book, but can be an article forwarded to your team with a personal reflection, or even individual conversations as a part of the year-end reviews. Don’t underestimate how a couple of powerful leadership insights can set people on a path towards a different outlook, and how shared vocabulary could help create the momentum for change in the new year.
5. Show appreciation. I find myself running so hard at times that I forget to pause and say Thank You. End of the year is a perfect time to show our appreciation. Following the lead of some of the best leaders I have observed, I took the opportunity to write a personal note in the books I gave. I want each of my teammates to know what I appreciate about them. I am excited to see everyone continues to grow as individual leaders, and also bringing that diversity of thought to work and creating that inclusive environment for everything to thrive.

Just like workstyles, the way we unwind is as individual as we are. At the same time, as leaders, there are tips and tricks to help encourage our teams to take this time seriously. Please share what you think and what works for you.

Happy holidays to everyone, and make sure you take the time to reflect and unwind.