ALL THE LATEST
THE FINAL QUARTER OF 2020
Kausern Hieu, Country Manager of Nuffnang Malaysia
As we move into the fourth quarter of the year, these final three months will determine whether an organization's goals will be met and if the worst comes to worst, whether this year’s results will be equal or at least marginally better than the previous year.
Regardless, whether it’s on an organizational level or even on your personal front, one thing’s for sure as we head towards the holiday season; we all desire to finish strong in Q4.
Here are some tips to motivate our ourselves and your organization in the final quarter:
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A message to self: Stop self-sabotaging your success.
Have you ever found yourself working towards reaching your final goal only to spectacularly fail because you did something silly? Cue to the infamous scene of a runner tripping over himself as he approaches the finish line. This is a sign of self-sabotaging.
Self-sabotaging happens because somewhere deep in our subconscious, we’re fighting against our intent for bigger dreams, success and happiness. Why? Your subconscious sees such a self-defeating behaviour as a way to protect yourself from the unknown. Yes, there is such a thing as the fear of success or winning. So, it’s better to remain where we are, to be the no. 2, than having unknown circumstances blindside us.
At the heart of it, self-sabotaging behaviours are rooted in our feelings of low self-worth. Good news is that it’s just feelings. Oh yeah, feelings are real but they don’t always reflect the reality. Most of the time, what we feel are not facts but a response to facts. When we are mindful of this, we can clearly separate our emotions with the facts of life. Of course, it’s easier said than done, but I highly recommend you to Google ways to stop self-sabotaging yourself.
2. A message to leaders: Lead by example.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
Actions speak louder than words. It's hard for employees to take speeches about finishing the year strong seriously if they don't see you pushing yourselves to the limits. If it means getting to the office early and working throughout the night, so be it. True leadership during Q4 comes when you roll up your sleeves and work hard side-by-side with your team.
One way a leader can work alongside the team is to hold short weekly “check-in and check-out” meetings (such meetings are meant to be on point and it shouldn’t drag). You get to set some short-term weekly goals for the team. By setting goals with tight deadlines, you push the team to give their best. “Check-ins” are meant to set commits for the week and “check-outs” are to identify, “what worked, what didn’t and what did you learn”.
It is during such meetings, you can identify which team member is going above and beyond in Q4. It’s important to catch them doing right (yes, that’s what I said) and to immediately recognize and praise them. When you show appreciation to a staff for a job well done, it shows that you care enough to pay close attention to their efforts to want to finish strong.
Recognizing your team members for their hard work is a proven method to increase motivation and engagement because you’re honouring and acknowledging their value.
3. A message to the management: Offer incentives.
I don’t mean extra monetary rewards especially we know how tough this year has been on most industries. You and the executive team can always think of creative ways to motivate your employees without breaking the bank.
Get input from your team members and ask what motivates them. Be open for their inputs and be courageous to try new tactics. You never know what might work. For example, you can offer extra days off from Christmas to the New Year for the entire office if your organization achieve its Q4 targets by a certain date.
In closing, as we enter the final quarter of 2020, it's important to keep the energy high. As you can see, the responsibility is not squarely on the shoulders of the management. It’s a team effort. We will go further and achieve more when we’re together.
May your Q4 be your strongest quarter!
