December Priorities for Managers

Of course a manager’s priority list is filled with goals given to them by the company. It goes without saying those goals should be taken seriously and achieved.

Beyond the goals that are given to a manager are the priorities they chose themselves. These are the things that make their team more than a group of people hired to do a job. These are the priorities that, when achieved, make them connected.

9 Priorities for Your Consideration

1. Comment publicly on at least one good thing that happened each day.
2. Praise publicly at least one person a day on an action they’ve done, not just a number they achieved.
3. Communicate simply. Communicate often. Communicate again.
4. Make your to-do list public and check off the tasks as they are completed.
5. Demonstrate personal punctuality. (Let me spell it out: Be On Time Every Time.)
6. Include employee breaks in the daily schedule and don’t be grumpy when they are taken.
7. Avoid ‘mandatory fun‘- ask them what they want before declaring a Secret Santa or after work event.
8. Coffee. Cold Water. Doughnuts. Fruit. Veggies. (Even on your salary, even this month: you can afford this and should provide at least some of this.)
9. Always–clean employee restrooms.

Here’s the Thing

Some of these will come naturally to you and some will need determined forethought and planning. Which is which is something only you can answer for yourself.

But no matter how different it feels it WILL make the difference to the way your team works, how they sleep at the end of the day, how they feel as the travel in to work each day, and how long they stay employed.

Truth is that these are things that can (and should) be done every month of the year, not just December.

Just like recognition, coaching, goal-setting, and appreciation: these 9 Priorities won’t seem like things to check off your Holiday to-do list if you incorporate them into your every day team culture.

They become simply ‘the way we do things here’.

And There IS Some Magic That Happens

There is a reason this is a list for Managers. It’s because, when the person in charge leads the way and demonstrates by their behavior that these are important, others will join in.

This list centers on what YOU can do, YOUR actions, what YOU control.

Kindness begets kindness. Concern begets concern.

Someone reading this is thinking “But…”

• But, we don’t have a manager.
• But, we are just two people and this would be weird.
• But, my manager would NEVER do this.
• But, that’s not the way it’s done around here.
• But, I don’t work in retail/office.
• But, we all work remote.

It. Doesn’t. Matter.

• You don’t have a manager? YOU incorporate some/all of these into the way you interact with those around you at work.
• You are just two people? Perfect. They the impact will be seen even quicker.
• Your manager would never do this? Then YOU start to do it. You create the working environment to which you want to belong every day.
• Not the way it’s done around there? Then it’s high time it begins. Start with just one of these priorities, ease them into it once a month. By this time next year you will have in place a much more healthy working situation.
• Don’t work retail or in a group environment? Start these with your family. Family is the longest-lasting cooperative team to which you will ever belong… no matter how dysfunctional it may be. Take a moment and read over the 9 Priorities: each one can be done within the family.
• Work from home or separate from the rest of the team? I have two options for you. 1) Use these actions yourself to connect with the team. 2) Share this article with the team and ask if they want to make them the group priorities for the rest of the year.

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What are your must-have priorities? Leave a comment and let me know!

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