Boosting Employee Energy for Mid-Year Strategy and OKR Progress Reviews
June is just a few days away, and it's important to boost the energy in your company’s employees to keep (or get) your 2025 goals on track for mid-year progress reviews before the big summer vacation season hits. This is a time when things at work may start to slow down as summer vacations get scheduled. Historically, the first week of July has nearly as many employees on personal leave as the week between Christmas and New Year's.
However, there's proof that taking vacations can actually improve overall productivity. Research from the American Psychological Association highlights that vacations “help employees recover from stress”, leading to “higher energy levels, improved mood, and increased motivation” upon returning to work. It is also common to see employees working harder and their productivity boosting just before going on vacation. To capitalize on this, consider asking for richer status updates during goal progress updates, assure that key responsibilities are delegated, and backup plans are in place before employees go on leave. Not everyone is on leave, so ensure that recurring meetings and reviews stay on the calendar, even if the team leader is out. Weekly Team OKR sessions and regular business reviews should remain a priority to maintain momentum.
Mid-year strategic progress reviews are particularly important during this period. These reviews provide an opportunity to assess the achievements and setbacks of the first half of the year, and to realign strategies to meet year-end goals. By conducting thorough and insightful progress reviews, teams can identify areas of improvement, celebrate successes, and make necessary course corrections and adjustments. This ensures that everyone remains focused and motivated, even as the lure of vacation time approaches.
Interestingly, the founder of Instagram, Kevin Synstrom, came up with the idea of starting the social-media platform while on vacation in Mexico as highlighted by this article from Entrepreneur.com. This highlights the positive impact that periods of rest and relaxation can have on creativity and productivity. Leveraging the creative boost that vacations can bring, employees may return to work with renewed inspiration and innovative ideas.
Why Short Wellness Challenges are Perfect Before Vacation to boost energy, creativity and productivity.
Implementing short wellness challenges before vacation can be an effective way to maintain high levels of productivity. The Yumuuv app and other similar providers have some great ways to boost engagement with fun events that teams and employees can utilize. They also boost teamwork and social connection, delivering tangible results in a short time. This approach not only keeps the team engaged but also fosters a sense of accomplishment before taking time off. Some of the benefits for implementing short challenges are:
- Fits tight schedules
- Low planning overhead
- Keeps energy up during a lull
- Boosts teamwork and social connection
- Tangible results in a short time
Using these strategies can help maintain high levels of productivity and ensure that your team accomplishes mid-year goals effectively. By focusing on mid-year strategic progress reviews and leveraging the benefits of vacations and short wellness challenges, your company can navigate the summer season with confidence and vigor.
Inspire Software is here to ensure your strategic goals and OKRs stay on track throughout the summer and the entire year. With our advanced AI tools for goal execution and extensive dashboards for business and team reviews, we provide tailored solutions for companies, teams, and individual contributors. Don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your performance and achieve your objectives. Contact us for a demo today!
