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Ah, spring is in full bloom... The weather is warming up, flowers are popping everywhere, and productivity? It might be about to hit a slump. We all know that summer can be a bit distracting - in fact, studies show that 25 percent of workers feel less productive from June through August than the rest of the year. And who can blame them when the beach is calling and vacation plans are brewing?
However, if you're anticipating the summer slump or starting to feel its early effects, don't fret! It happens in almost all industries. According to research by Capterra, productivity tends to drop by as much as 20% during summer months, with even the most dedicated professionals feeling the pull of sunny days. Let's look at four different ways to maintain momentum as we shift from spring into summer and keep your business thriving through the warmer months!
1. Network, Network, Network… Online!
They say that it's all about connections and who you know, which is true! As we approach summer, this is a perfect time to build your network before people start taking vacations.
Maybe you're focused on getting new clients and it's just not working… Look to your existing clients for referrals and up-sells before they mentally check out for summer adventures. You would be surprised how far that can get you. Did you know that acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing one? And increasing customer retention by just 5% can increase profits from 25-95%! Those numbers should convince even the most dedicated cold-caller to reconnect with their existing clientele.
Get active on social media! There are so many webinars, online events, groups, etc. that are connecting right now, making major business moves that will only benefit them in the future. LinkedIn reports that users who regularly engage on their platform are 45% more likely to get new opportunities compared to passive users. Time to dust off that profile picture from 2018.
Networking is crucial for B2B marketers, now more than ever. And while we can't always be making connections in person just yet, online networking broadens our horizons to even more individuals. Have you considered joining industry-specific Slack channels or Discord servers? These platforms have exploded in popularity, with some professional Slack communities boasting over 10,000 members all sharing tips, job openings, and collaboration opportunities.
Consider hosting a virtual round table or "ask me anything" session for your industry peers before everyone's summer calendar fills up. Not only does this position you as a thought leader, but it creates meaningful connections that could carry you through the traditionally slower summer months.
2. Tackle Passion Projects
As summer approaches, you might soon have a little more time on your hands. Employees should really focus on projects that they feel passionate about to spark their creativity and maintain momentum through the potential summer slowdown. Look into projects that maybe don't fall into your employees' line of duty, but they've expressed excitement about that particular topic before.
Having someone work on a project they feel passionately about with reasonable free rein may help create a truly game-changing idea or plan… That could be exactly what your company needs to thrive during traditionally slower months. Innovation rarely comes from doing the same old tasks on repeat. Instead, it emerges when people are given space to explore new ideas and approaches.
Take a look at Google and Microsoft… These are two leading organizations that have teams set up where employees are encouraged to explore and work on new ideas. Google's famous "20% time" policy (where employees can dedicate one day a week to side projects) has resulted in products like Gmail and Google News! It could be worth it to change things up before summer hits!
What passion project could revolutionize your business? Maybe it's finally implementing that customer feedback system your team member has been dreaming about, or exploring that new social platform your marketing coordinator keeps mentioning. Whatever it is, spring is the perfect time to greenlight these initiatives before summer distractions kick in.
The data backs this up, too – companies that encourage innovation report 15% higher market share growth compared to their peers. It's not too shabby to let people work on what excites them, huh?
3. Focus on Team-Building
Whether you're in person or on Zoom, it's important to take time to work on your team so they can maintain momentum when summer temptations arise. Spring is great for planning events like company picnics, softball games, and even happy hours that can be executed during the summer months.
Why not try scheduling a virtual escape room before vacation season begins? Or plan a guided online cooking class where ingredients are delivered to everyone's homes? Companies that dedicate time to team building see remarkable results, with studies showing up to a 50% increase in collaborative problem solving and a 25% reduction in conflict. Teams that play together simply work better together, especially during traditionally slower periods.
Doing fun things like this has many benefits for your business, including increased productivity and happier employees… We call that a win-win situation. Organizations with highly engaged employees outperform their competitors by 147% in earnings per share. That fun virtual trivia night might just pay for itself many times over during the summer months!
Don't forget that team building shouldn't just be about fun and games. Use this time to align on summer goals, set expectations for availability during vacation periods, and connect with your company's core mission. When everyone has clear expectations for the summer months, it's easier to maintain momentum.
4. Plan Ahead and Stay Strong
It's already been a busy first part of the year, and when all is said and done, the only way to prevent a slump is to anticipate it and prepare. The coming summer months can be distracting, but the goal is to remind yourself and your team that planning ahead can make all the difference.
Have you considered creating a summer productivity plan? This might include flexible work schedules that allow team members to enjoy the weather while still meeting deadlines, or perhaps project timelines that account for increased vacation time. Some companies even implement "Summer Fridays," where work ends early, knowing that the trade-off is higher productivity during actual working hours.
This is also the perfect time to set clear Q3 goals and create visual trackers that keep everyone motivated even when the beach is calling. Break larger projects into manageable chunks with deadlines spread throughout the summer to maintain a steady workflow rather than facing the panic of last-minute crunches.
Hopefully, planning ahead, setting realistic expectations, and keeping a positive attitude will give you the momentum you need to sail through the summer months. Remember that historically, many businesses use summer strategically, with 65% of successful companies using this "slower" time to plan major Q4 initiatives! Your proactive planning now could be setting you up for your best year-end ever.
Anticipating the summer slump and feeling a bit anxious is normal, but remember that with proper preparation, you can maintain momentum or even turn it into an advantage. The businesses that thrive during summer are those that anticipate challenges, innovate solutions, and strengthen their foundations before the heat hits.
Here's to staying excited and maintaining momentum as we head into those sunny summer months! Who knows? This might just be your most productive summer yet!
What strategies are you planning to implement to beat the summer slump? Drop a comment below – we'd love to hear what works for you!
