Is the weather affecting your business?

Summary: Is the weather affect your business, your employee productivity – you may not be able to change the weather but here are some ways to get passed it.

Today it has been raining and for me that means I have a tendency to move a little slower. I know, not a good thing to admit but I try to be very self aware.  On these days I focus my energies on ideas, research or other tasks that don’t require a deadline. This way I can still get work done…at my pace.

Ok, that’s me what about you? When you have employees – how many are affected by the weather? It could be rain, cold, heat, snow, wind, etc. For example:  here in the Midwest when winter is coming to an end and we have our first sunny day, cabin fever hits which means everyone has their eyes outside, wondering if they can escape the office.  Guess how productivity is on that day?

Out of curiosity – one on of these “weather” days, start walking around, what is everyone doing? Is it faster, slower, normal? Figure out for yourself.

Can you change it? Unless you can perform magic and change the weather – maybe not directly. In directly you have discovered that on these “weather” days you may need to change things up a bit.

Here are some ideas:

• Cabin Fever. Break people out by offering a spontaneous picnic.  Go as a group and have everyone bring their lunch.
• Windy days. Go to the parking lot or somewhere outdoors and have an “object” race.  Everyone brings an office supply and have a race
• Rainy Days. Create an indoor obstacle course, create teams and race.