With the clocks about to “fall back” employees often get a good case of the doldrums this time of year.  The holidays aren’t quite here yet and going home in the dark is just depressing!  Budgets are due, year end closings are happening, shopping for those impending holidays, money woes, and more all pile on this time of year.

Do these simple things to give everyone in your workplace a boost;

1. Ask people for a few good simple and inexpensive ideas that will make the workplace better in the coming winter months. 

2. Give a few more minutes each week to each person in your office and find out what is going on in their life.  This time of year may present some special challenges and you may have some ideas to help.

3.  Bring in a funny movie.  Remember school when instead of class we had a movie?  Take a laughter break.

4.  Start some new health challenge.  Lead a walk at lunch, stock veggies in the kitchen for snacking, sign up a group to hike or bike over the weekend.

5.  Add some music or the sound of a waterfall near the front door in the morning.  We all need a pick me up in the morning and coffee isn’t always the answer.

6.  Get excited about something you can do together.  With the holidays coming possibly a charity event.

7.  Smile, smile and then smile some more until it catches on.

In a recent release of HR Magazine, Evan Scott of BOOST tells us about the new challenges that we face with our workforce and how to address them.  He points out that we need to not only know who these people are and what they need, but then we need to be prepared to reward them in a way that pushes the envelop, using technology and aligning those rewards with what we are trying to accomplish.

A leader knows how important incentives and rewards are.  In the new world, where we must not only attract and maintain the best, new leaders are looking at what else is needed to convey the message of accomplishment .  People want and need more.  Companies need to align incentives to outcomes so that it is a win-win situation all around.  Both of these need good technology as a partner to make it happen.

Check out this great article and Evan’s words of wisdom at “It’s a New World and Everyone is Paying Attention.”