Well here we go, we are heading into the final stretch of the holiday season. This time of year, we are all 
feeling rushed to get it all done. And, feeling overwhelmed trying to balance work and family. It’s the season when all we really want to do is just take a little time off and just relax. Sound familiar?
Ah the holiday season, a time where conventional wisdom tells us to quit worrying about business, but our “to-do lists” remind us we have goals to meet and organizations to grow. I am a believer that the professional who stays committed through the holiday season is the one who will start 2017 with a bang. BUT, I also believe in putting first things first and enjoying the holiday season.
So how do you strike the balance? How do you handle the pressure of making sure you start 2017 strong? Start it with enough business in your pipeline to hit your January goals? All while ensuring that you back-off the daily grind and fully enjoy your family and friends? You do it by learning the strategies to handle holiday-work balance.
Yes, that is a term I just made up, but you understand, right? Our whole life is about managing balance. Managing our career, our kids, our aging parents and, god forbid, time for ourselves. Believe me, the holidays are no different. I think we are under more pressure during the holiday season than almost any of other time of the year.
If you take a breath and learn what to do, you can put yourself in a position to take your foot off the gas without losing momentum.
4 Strategies To Strike Holiday-Work Balance:
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Make A Plan
The only way to truly accomplish anything with the least amount of effort and as efficiently as possible, is to make a plan. Take a moment to think about what needs accomplished in December to hit first quarter goals.
As Stephen Covey says, begin with the end in mind. Think about who you need to call on and when you can call on them. December has a short amount of days and limited time for business. With the combination of holiday parties and vacation days, you must work efficiently to be effective. And, working efficiently is all about having a plan.
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Tee Up The Ball
With your plan in place, and your list prepared, you need to think about “how” to make sales calls. Unlike any other month of the year, December is not the time to be direct. Asking for business or pushing for decisions is not the best idea with minds on parties, presents and family. Instead, you need to “tee up the ball.”
You need to make sales calls in a way that build relationships, creates deeper trust and positions you to win the business once the holiday season is over.
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Sit Back & Relax
Once your plan is executed, your sales calls are finished and your customers are waiting (and expecting) to hear from you just after the first of the year, it is time to sit back and relax. You have earned it, it is time to enjoy the holidays. Knowing you have prospects in the pipeline and customers waiting to be called on as soon as the new year starts, gives you the peace of mind to focus on what is most important – your family, friends and loved ones.
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Take Action
Whew! With the holidays over, you need to take action. You have made your plan, teed up the ball, and your customers and prospect are waiting. All that is left is for you to take action, to collect on all the hard work you put in before the holiday season.
Yes, you can have it all, the ability to grow your business and fully enjoy the holiday season. In fact, I think the holidays are one of the best times of year to visit customers, introduce yourself to prospects and grow your business. Use these four sales strategies to find the perfect mix of Holiday-Work Balance, and allow yourself to take your foot off the gas without losing speed.
