Top Ten Tips: Put the Christmas sparkle in employee engagement
Keep your staff engaged and productive this Christmas, without quashing the festive cheer, with these tips from John Sylvester, executive director of P&MM Motivation.

As the end of another tough year approaches, employee input and overall engagement levels can begin to wane as the business gradually winds down. However, the weeks leading up to Christmas can be extremely valuable to an organisation and, if approached correctly, can have a real impact on the company's success in future months by providing a vital head start for the New Year.
1. Take stock of the year so far
A powerful way to improve the overall business function is to take staff feedback into account. Ask employees what the business highlights have been for them, what needs to be improved and how. Once accumulated, utilise feedback to identify areas for improvement and prioritise these for next year. To maintain engagement, keep staff informed regularly about plans and developments.
2. Deal with 'itchy feet'
As the year concludes, employees may place a new career high on their agenda. However, employees who feel valued will be less likely to look for new work. To help retain good staff, discuss opportunities and objectives for progression. Having clear goals for the following year in place helps employees to feel integrated.
3. Reinforce your company values