Storm Watch
Amidst the holiday hangover and push to get back into business as usual, companies are battening down the hatches. Economists are predicting a tsunami — in the form of inflation and recession — will hit our shores in the near future. We’ve seen massive layoffs from Twitter, DoorDash, Netflix, Salesforce, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and more. Marketing and other “cost center” budgets are being slashed.
Still, the work goes on.
New Year, New You
At the same time, it’s still early in the year. New Year’s resolutions are at the forefront of our personal lives. Many have made vows to eat healthier, exercise more, start meditating, and get more sleep. The New Year always seems like the right time to prioritize our overall health.
We think the same should be true for your business. Now is not only the right time — it’s a critical one — to focus on your team’s health.
Counter Culture
It might seem counterintuitive to invest in culture when you’ve just laid off 5% or more of your workforce. However, we know this is actually the BEST time to invest in those left to carry the torch of your brand promise. The reality is there are now fewer workers left to meet your company goals.
Also, the economy has an accordion-style opening and closing rhythm with its ups and downs when measured over years. It’s important for companies to keep investing in their employees through the down times. Doing so sets them up for success when things turn around — when it’s time to ramp up production, hire new team members, and increase profit margins.
Push Through The Pain
Just like in our personal health, the most critical time to push through doubt and discomfort is when we are most unhealthy. When we least feel like it, we need to muster up the will. That means putting on our gym shoes and hitting the walking trail — or lifting some weights.
No doubt, layoffs create a level of unhealth in your company culture, even if done well. There are ripple effects of uncertainty about the future, resentment, and even survivor’s guilt. Your team is going through a lot of mixed emotions. As their leader, it’s your job to help them weather this storm. And the time is now — not sometime in the future when the economy stabilizes.
It Doesn’t Take Much
This doesn’t mean you have to give employees bonuses if your bottom line doesn’t support it. Things like an extra day off, flex time, or investment in education and wellness programs don’t cost much. However, they can go a long way toward helping employees feel seen, valued, and appreciated. Plus, these types of programs cost a fraction of what it will cost you if you do nothing.
Doing nothing leads to underappreciated, overworked employees. Doing nothing results in a company failing to live up to its potential. Most importantly, it costs connection — the thing we constantly preach as experts in Team Connecting, because connection leads to reduced stress, increased job satisfaction, greater engagement, and even improved physical health.
Of course, we think creating connection through fun is a smart way to invest in your people. We’ve seen firsthand the positive impact fun brings to our clients and even to our Grin Events team.
We Make It Simple
We know trying to plan something fun can be anything but. That’s why we make it as simple as possible.
- Reach out to our team
- Pick a date
- Show up and we’ll bring the fun!
