Page 2 - LeadershipLine_July2022

Keeping Employees Engaged in the Summer Months

Do you remember the good ol’ days of finally being free from school and enjoying the summer vacation by riding
bikes, swimming, and your favorite fruits? That sense of fun still exists as adults, but the daily office schedule does
not change, making it hard to stay focused.
You can counteract the summertime blues and keep your team happy and engaged by following these tips:

1. Empathize with Your Team. After the blistering cold months, the warm weather
and long days enable people to be outdoors, get their minds off work, and replenish
themselves. For the parents on the team, this also means additional time to connect
with their kids. As managers, you should empathize with this desire so that your
team is more motivated to work. Listen to their needs. How do they feel? Are they
stressed or overwhelmed? What are their summer plans? Ask them for ways that
you can create opportunities for their summertime plans.
2. Encourage Vacations. When employees feel burned out, their work can also
suffer. It’s important for leaders to encourage employees to take vacations. We all
need to clear our minds, relieve stress, and regain energy. When your team knows
they’re taken care of, they will take care of you and your project in return.
3. Schedule Team Events. Bring the fun of summer into the workplace so people
can enjoy it even when they’re not on vacation. Summer barbecues are a must so
take your team out to your local BBQ spot for lunch and let MIL pick up the tab!
Our corporate events are also a great way for your team to get to know other MIL
employees such as our Kings Dominion Family Event and the Crab Feast.
4. Use Your Resources. There are several affordable ways to have fun with your
team. Potlucks are a great way to come together without spending a dime.
Employees provide the food, and the meeting place can be the office. Volunteering
as a team is also a great way to bond, and it gives your employees a chance to give
back to the community.
5. Talk with Members of the Team. Communication is key. If an employee event
happens on a weekday and a manager is concerned that the team will be less
focused that day, share that concern. That’s the backbone of building a team:
trusting one another.

We all want to enjoy our time, including our team members. This summer, instead of making employees choose
between having fun or working, help them do both! They’ll work harder when they are free to go for an afternoon
bike ride and enjoy eating a slice of watermelon. Make sure to take a slice as well!
Main points are taken from “Boosting Employee Engagement in the Summer Months” by Zeynep Ilgaz

Did you know

Reminder: Report all overseas travel
to MIL Security at security@milcorp.com