It’s not what most people see when they return home from the holidays. While it would be great to have a beautiful turkey and polite conversation over the delicious spread, real life is not like that. More likely, the visit will be marred by work interruptions or political tensions.
Thanksgiving and other holidays offer a chance to relax while away from work. You might find that a few tips and tricks from your workplace can help you enjoy yourself, improve relationships, reduce stress, and make it easier to relax.
These are five ways you can break with tradition and make use of your business acumen to navigate Thanksgiving.
1. Use your best conflict resolution strategies.
Consider how you would handle rude colleagues when your in-law comments on your “interesting interpretation” of their mashed potato recipe. Anger is not the best way to handle an insulting comment. Instead of attacking directly, take a deep breath and then conclude that the reason for their behavior is most likely due to their daily life. Don’t let your anger get the best of you. Instead, take a deep breath and then move on to something positive.
2. Recognize regressions.
Don’t allow your professional collaboration style to turn into uncalled for bossiness around your younger siblings. You can use your analytical skills to determine the cause. A New York Times article by Joyce Wadler states that Mark Smaller, the head of the American Psychoanalytic Association’s public information committee, believes holidays can cause ‘temporary regressions’ in which siblings, parents, and adult children, once reunited, can revert back to decades-old behavior patterns.
3. Stress less; prepare first.
The remote work and 24/7 connectivity make it possible to avoid work creeping in on vacations. Spend the weeks prior to signing off communicating travel plans, completing tasks ahead of time and delegating when necessary. Discuss with your colleagues what constitutes a work crisis, what can be delayed and how far off the grid you will be.
4. Set solid boundaries.
As you wouldn’t discuss anything private or political at work during your weekly Zooms, family members should be informed in advance if any personal issues are off limits. Avoid discussing sensitive topics. “Uncle Joe, let us agree to disagree about midterm elections.” What do you think of my green bean casserole?
5. Check your list twice.
A to-do list helps you get through your workday. You can use it to get through your holiday. Write down the things you want to do during your trip. Do you want to ask your family historians to tell a few stories? Perhaps it’s purchasing movie tickets instead of watching a TV show at home. Maybe you want to unplug from your devices so that you can build connections with extended family members. In other words, turn off your text notifications and have a small conversation with your second cousin mom. You might feel more productive after Thanksgiving if you hold yourself accountable .
SUCCESS first published the post 5 Tips to Use Your Business Skills to Navigate Thanksgiving.