A Happy Hour is a regular one-hour appointment with each of your team members where they set the agenda. It is one hour of your undivided attention where you focus totally on their needs and development. It can occur weekly; either face to face or in a teleconference. It involves you the manager and your team member. The team member manages the whole happy hour – it is their time to use, as they want: to cover their objectives and individual development needs.To assist make this a productive happy hour here are a few guidelines to assist you.
Turn off both mobile phones
Use this time without interruptions from outside.
Choose a closed room or café for undistracted space to conduct your happy hour
It if often good to get out of the office environment for a more relaxed and confidential meeting.
Keep to time
Restrict this to one hour to also allow you to complete other commitments.
Allocate the same time every week unless otherwise agreed between both parties
This will assist consistency and also prevent team members from interrupting you throughout the week, and they will save everything possible for the happy hour.
Be prepared
As a team members make sure you have a prepared agenda (or list) you would like to cover. As the manager, this is not your time to dump work on themthis is their hour to talk with you.
Be honest
During this happy hour both parties should be able to discuss all issues in an open and honest way.
Measure the success of the happy hour
Make sure all agenda items on your team member’s list have been discussed. Ensure the problems have found solutions and both parties are smiling and all issues have been resolved.
Understand the objectives of the happy hour
To improve performance, discuss KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and build Results. This can be a valuable way to build relationships within the team.
Understand the benefits of a weekly happy hour
It can boost morale, open Communication lines, create “warm and fuzzy” feelings in the office, improve sales performance, help balance team personalities, and allows you to maintain contact with each team member.
By conducting a one hour happy hour each week with your team you will ensure each of their individual development needs are addressed, you will save yourself time as you won’t receive multiple interruptions during your working week and you will build a stronger relationship with each person. Introduce happy hours into your workplace today.
