As we head into the New Year, the HR headaches that are typically associated with the Christmas period have become a distant memory. Hopefully, we won’t have to contend with snowy weather conditions or bad behaviour at the festive party for at least another eleven months.
Whilst many business owners are looking forward to a starting afresh with new goals and objectives, there are some challenges that go hand in hand with being the boss in January.
As they say, forewarned is forearmed, so it makes sense to take a little time to consider the issues that you might be faced with. Let’s take a look at what you could be up against this month…
Demotivated staff
January can be a bit of a sombre month. The festivities are out of the way, and it can be tough to get motivated and back into a productive routine. Though some of your staff might return rested and refreshed after a nice break, and will be ready to hit the ground running, others might be feeling less excited about being back in the office.
Sounds simple, get to know the mood of your workplace, and consider how you can bring the team together to kick the year off to the best possible start. Recognise that different team members will have varying levels of motivation, and pinpoint how you can take a tailored approach to getting everyone back onboard.
Staff moving on to pastures new
According to Monster, January 4this the biggest job search day of the year, and research indicates that a lot of people associate the new year with a new career. In short, your staff might be thinking about moving on, leaving you with a challenge on your hands when it comes to getting jobs done and filling vacancies.
At the end of the day, people will inevitably move on. A job for life is an unfamiliar concept these days, and though there’s plenty you can do to boost your chances of retaining your talent, staff will leave from time to time. What’s important here is that you have a continuity plan, and you know how you’d cope if a valued member of staff handed in their notice.
The pressure of the final quarter of the financial year
It may be the start of a new calendar year, but the financial year is drawing to a close. For many, this will mean that all hands need to be on deck to ensure that targets are smashed. From accounting considerations to the practical operational requirements that will ensure everything goes according to plan, it can be a stressful time.
Of course, a little stress is often part and parcel of running a business, and many would argue that it can be just the medicine for pulling big results out of the bag. There’s a fine line though, and you need to think about where that is for yourself, your management team, and your staff.