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There is a reason why the “H” stands for “Human” in HR – at the end of the day, businesses are run by people (at least until AI completely takes over) ;-).Thanksgiving week, one of those times during the year when the feeling among co-workers and clients changes ever so slightly. People thank each other more, have more empathy for teammates, clients are bit more forgiving, and the general tone is one of humor and light heartedness. People slow down a bit, take time to have longer discussions, and simply engage more and rush less. On a personal level, it is time spent with family and friends, helping our neighbors and community, and reflecting on what each of us is thankful for (which for me is a lot).
I have been in the business world for over 20 years – managed a lot of teams, with a lot of different personalities and through it all, this Thanksgiving phenomenon holds true. Even the best companies with the most amazing culture and teams get that little extra bump. Now, one could say that when people know it’s a short week that they relax a bit more, or maybe it’s because they know they will have a day to spend with family or friends. Or perhaps they see the end of the year approaching, and there is the pending feeling of closure. Or maybe… just maybe… they have a little more time to breathe and can look at things through a different lens.
The bigger question is, what if we could extend this Thanksgiving bump from just one week to every day, every month, all year long? How would it impact your business? How would it impact your company culture? Your employee and client engagement?
In HR, we often talk about EQ or Emotional Intelligence, which is basically having the awareness to recognize and adjust both your emotions and those of the people you are interacting with. For some, this comes naturally, for others it is something that they are constantly striving for. In either instance, there is recognition that this awareness makes a difference in employee engagement, productivity, retention, and satisfaction. And it’s no secret that bumps in those four areas can make a positive financial impact to your business.
While it’s not New Year’s yet and we aren’t ready for those 2020 resolutions, I challenge my fellow business leaders and HR professionals to think about what we can do to continue the season of giving. Ask yourself:
As someone who has spent his career providing services to small and medium-sized businesses, I have seen first-hand what getting a little help can do, so if you need help, give me a call.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family, friends, employees, and your clients.
