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Don’t Be a Holiday Slacker: 5 Tips for Staying Productive at Work During the Holidays

28 Nov 2011 By: Diane Gottsman

It’s often difficult to stay focused on the job when there is tinsel to be strung and mistletoe to be hung, but keeping your mind on your effort to eat and pay the rent is both wise and prudent. Here are a few ways to continue to be productive and put your best foot forward at the office this holiday season.

 5 Tips for Staying Productive at Work During the Holidays

  1. 1. Take a look at your clients’ interests. This holiday season, rather than giving your best client the usual towering box of chocolate and nuts, make an effort to find out their favorite charity.  Then make a donation to that charity in his or her name. Taking the initiative to volunteer is a good way to spend some quality time with your client without looking like you are brown-nosing or kissing up
  2. Lend a hand. While you may have some time to spare, a colleague or supervisor may be drowning in paper work or projects. This would be the perfect time to show your team spirit and offer your assistance. It is also an opportunity to learn a bit about a part of your company that you aren’t currently familiar with – knowledge is power.
  3. Party smart. Rather than dreading the holiday office party, turn it into an opportunity to build good will and get to know people in your organization that you don’t see on a regular basis. Sharing a cup of holiday nog in a festive environment is a stress-free way to shine and network with a few new contacts.
  4. Don’t slack off on your work load. Just because all of your colleagues are coming in late, taking off early and spending hours at their computer ordering their holiday gifts online, remember to stay on task. Consider business as usual until you take off for your own holiday break.
  5. Get ahead. If your industry is slow during the holiday season, take advantage of the down time by reorganizing your files, cleaning out your desk (or the office fridge – big points with your colleagues and boss!) and sort through your files, making a list of who you will need to reconnect with at the first of the year. Make some 2012 goals and put them down in writing. All that time on your hands should get your creative juices flowing.

With a little effort, you can turn December doldrums into a time to strengthen connections with colleagues and clients and get on the right track for a successful 2012. Staying productive at work during the Holidays doesn’t have to be a struggle!  Happy holidays!

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Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.