End of summer slow down? 4 tips for curing the autumn blues

From a managerial standpoint, September can be one of the most challenging months of the year. As summer eases into fall, it’s not unusual for workers to experience a slight dip in performance quality. In particular, many employees with children struggle to stay focused and productive at work as their family life transitions from carefree vacation mode to the structured routine of the school year.

From rousing the kids for the morning rush to organizing rides home from soccer practice, it’s easy to see how the added stresses of the fall can add up. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing managers can do about it! Here are four great strategies for keeping your team dialed-in during this change-filled month.

Let your staff know that you understand how tricky the change in seasons can be — heck, you’re probably dealing with many of the same challenges yourself. This sense of camaraderie and shared experience will reinforce the bonds that make your company a great place to work. The big idea is to help out one another, so solicit suggestions from your staff and praise them for their good ideas. It’s important that everyone understands your regrouping efforts are a support mechanism, not a productivity directive from on-high. After all, success depends upon your team’s collective efforts and morale, especially those on the front lines dealing with clients every day.

Keeping the whole staff on the same page is key, and the best way to achieve it is through clear and open communication. Make sure your employees know what’s expected of them, and how you’ll support them in achieving your shared goals. With so many distractions during the back-to-school scramble, it can be useful and refreshing for employees to hear, in simple terms, what they already know in the back of their minds: This is what we’re working towards, and this is how we can get there!

Your middle managers have the closest daily contact with your staff, so they’ll be an important source of advice as you formulate your plan. They are best positioned to help you address problems with distractions and wandering focus, so be sure to lean on them for help and input in September. That’s what they’re there for!

Make sure your plan is working by taking some time each week to check in with your staff and management team. Positive reinforcement goes a long way, as does a willingness to listen and make adjustments. Most of all, trust your employees to follow through with the plan they helped create — you trained them for success, so take a step back and watch them achieve it!