Thanksgiving is hardly over before it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. That is, if you haven’t already figured out what you’re going to do for the holiday at your company.
Throughout the year, it’s easy to lose focus on what’s important. You don’t have to worry about where your next meal is coming from or finding a roof over your head when you leave the office. You get to celebrate the holiday season. Not everyone does.
Your company’s bottom line is important, but this is a great time to reflect on why it’s important. Your company allows all that to happen for you and your employees.
How we do Christmas
Sometimes the best way to come up with ideas for how you can help give your tribe BAM is to hear how others are doing it. Here at PatelOKC, there are several traditions we’ve built around Christmas that helps give BAM.
Volunteer for a local charity. The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Infant Crisis Services are two of my favorite charities to help during the holiday season. Each holiday, my tribe spends some time together helping one of these great organizations. It’s hard not to get a sense for how blessed you are when you can see first-hand how many people go without food each day.
Team dinner. Before we close the office for the holiday, I treat my entire team to a Christmas dinner. It’s a chance to celebrate the end of the year as a team one last time before taking on the new year.
Giving gifts. The gifts I give each of my employees is the one time of the year where seniority matters. It’s my way of giving thanks for sticking with me. We also have a $25 limit for Secret Santa, so people can get something for each other without feeling the pressure of giving lavish gifts.
Got a great idea for how to give your employees BAM this Christmas? Share it! »
No gift cards. Giving everyone in your company the same gift card doesn’t give anyone BAM. Instead, take the time to get to know each other a little better and give something with meaning.
Time with family. One of the greatest gifts you can give your tribe is the time to celebrate the holidays with loved ones. I give my tribe at least the entire week between Christmas and New Year’s off. That means having a system in place that lets your team work ahead to knock out any projects due.
Personal touch with cards. I like to add a personal touch to our holiday cards. After designing a custom card, my team will take the time to sign each one by hand. It’s a great time to catch up with each other while building a bit of BAM with our customers, too.
Didn’t get my card this year? Make sure you get one next year by adding your name to the list today!
7 ideas for your company
Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, the holiday season is the perfect time to give BAM. Here are a few ideas to help spark inspiration for your company’s holiday celebrations.
Donate your holiday. Inspired by charity: water’s birthday pledge, encourage your employees to donate their holiday to a charity of their choice. Then, any amount you’d give them for a gift can go as a donation in their name.
Donate your time. There are organizations near you who can use your time. We all have the same number of hours each day. That’s why donating your time to someone else means more than any dollar amount you can give.
Give meaning to someone else. One of the best ways to feel a sense of meaning is to help someone else get meaning. Organize giving needed supplies to a local school or good cause. Another idea is to pull your resources together as a company and adopt a family to give them a holiday they can’t create on their own.
Give your tribe the time. Let’s face it, if your people are working over the holidays their mind is usually somewhere else. Your employees would rather be with their loved ones for the holidays. So let them. Give them some extra time off to show them you care about their well-being.
Host dinner for your tribe. Does everyone in your tribe have a place to go for the holidays? If not, invite them over to your home for dinner with your family. Go beyond words by showing them that they belong.
Give teams the freedom they need. Not every team has to celebrate the holidays the same way. This is especially true for your remote teams or satellite offices. Give your company’s leaders the freedom to do what’s best for their team.
Give your tribe the control. Having trouble coming up with ideas that’ll give your tribe BAM? Ask them. One way you can do this is to find volunteers to organize it all. Give them the time and resources they need at work to come up with the things your entire company can do this holiday season. When you give your tribe the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life, you just might make a difference in theirs.
While there’s ample opportunity for making a positive impact in someone’s life this holiday season, giving back isn’t always a grand gesture. Sometimes it’s as simple as offering a smile to a stranger. Other times it’s being a friend instead of a boss.
The holiday season is a great time to put away the walls that we tend to build up throughout the year. Let your tribe see your authentic self. When you open yourself up to being vulnerable with your tribe, they’re more likely to do the same for you. That goes a long way to building a level of trust with your employees that’ll last throughout the year.
Now it’s your turn.
How are you celebrating the holidays with your company? Share your ideas for giving BAM to your tribe this holiday season or get inspired by others who have shared theirs on our Facebook page.