What is the biggest challenge you face in leading your team into the end-of-year holidays?

Our reader poll today asks: What is the biggest challenge you face in leading your team into the end-of-year holidays?

• Keeping their attention when they’re distracted by vacation/holidays – 36%
• Keeping them motivated to finish the year strong – 32%
• Overcoming their “we’ll figure it out next year” mindset – 11%
• I don’t face any of these challenges – 20%

Focus and motivation. End-of-year dynamics can be challenging to navigate. People are focused on holidays, travel, time off, and other personal issues at the end of the year. They’re also naturally in a mindset of coming to the end of a 12-month race and they’re looking forward to getting some rest. Keeping their focus on work tasks and maintaining motivation can be challenging for a leader. To make things easier for you and for them, keep a few principles in mind. First, recognize where their focus and energy is directed and manage work, deadlines, and priorities accordingly. While it’s tempting to “make one last push and finish strong” recognize that means you’re asking for more time and effort when their hearts and minds aren’t in it. Be realistic about what can get done. Encourage them to take their vacation and enjoy their time off so they can come into next year rested and ready. The harder you push people at the end of the year, the more disappointed you’re likely to be with their attitudes and their results.

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 240,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.