3 Ideas for creating holiday traditions for your company culture.

Your company’s culture is the outward manifestation of the organization’s personality, character, and workplace ethos. When it is a positive one, employees will enjoy their jobs and stay longer. Moreover, it will become a place that will attract both new customers and prospective employees. The winter holidays bring with them a perfect opportunity for you to enhance and show off the company culture you are working so hard to build. Consider implementing some or all of the following strategies to make it happen.

1. Create holiday traditions.

Establish practices and rituals that only happen during the holidays. Whether you decide to launch an annual gift exchange, run a festive photo contest, or come up with something of your own that reflects your specific brand, this special event will become something that everyone anticipates every year. Many traditions have the added benefit of bolstering goodwill, collaboration, and fun among teams and groups that flows into the regular workday.

2. Have a party.

There is nothing like a fun and festive holiday party. Whether you deck the halls in your workplace, take everyone out to a restaurant, or rent a hall, getting everyone together to celebrate the end of the year is a terrific way to bolster your company culture.

Use this event as the place to recognize staff who have been particularly helpful or productive this year. If you’re not sure who the best candidate is, your point of sale system’s employee management tools can provide invaluable sales productivity data. Finally, take pictures of your soiree that you can share on social media and your website to show the world that your workers are not just goal-oriented but also know how to have fun and enjoy each other’s company.

3. Give a meaningful holiday bonus.

It’s no secret that times are hard for both businesses and their customers. For that reason, you may not be able to be as generous as you would like to be when it comes to giving each worker extra funds in their holiday paycheck. Just remember that whatever you can give, however small, will be particularly appreciated during this expensive time of the year.

Another way to reward your staff is to close your doors for a day or two. This respite provides you and your team with a well-deserved break. What’s more, you will not need to pay for the gas, water, electricity, and other overhead costs that automatically occur whenever your store or office is open. This hiatus will give everyone the family time and rejuvenation that is so important as you begin the new year.

Promoting a rich company culture is a goal you should pay attention to year-round. However, the holidays are a terrific time to recognize accomplishments, enhance the cohesiveness of your team, and, most important of all, have fun. The spirit of collegiality and goodwill that results will last long after the holiday season comes to an end.