We’re not saying that you should be thinking too much about work while you lounge on the sofa after too much chocolate and mulled wine. However, nestled within some of our favorite Christmas movies are important messages on the value of good internal communication.
In Home Alone, Kevin’s parents, like most businesses, were busy keeping operations ticking over and their child got left behind in a flurry of activity as they departed for the holidays. Thirty years after the movie was made, this is now, thankfully, completely avoidable. Using a dedicated IC tool ensures that internal communications are accessible to all. And if someone does feel lost or disconnected, they have a quick and easy way to reach out and be reunited.
Many parallel stories are running concurrently in Love Actually, but the uniting thread is that communicating effectively with the ones you love - or work with - will avoid future pain. Also remember that emotions at Christmas are often heightened for those who celebrate, so choose your words carefully and ensure that those who don’t celebrate aren’t excluded.
Let’s be clear: we are absolutely not suggesting that you start a side hustle as a professional thief, a la Bad Santa. The message we’re taking away is that you’re never too old to learn from someone with a less cynical outlook on life (or work). In the movie, Bad Santa and his elf are taught the error of their ways by an 8-year-old. What could be gained from listening to the younger members of your workforce?
We all know the story behind A Christmas Carol, but what can we learn from it? We think the takeaway is that we shouldn’t make assumptions about people until we put ourselves in their shoes - even the Scrooges. Good internal communication means giving people the chance to get to know colleagues with very different daily routines and responsibilities. So, when you make a decision that might affect them, you can consider the impact and make better choices.
We might all be guilty of being a Grinch sometimes. Take social media, for example. How many times do we use it to make a complaint vs the number of times we use it to give positive feedback about our experiences? If a colleague has helped you or surprised you with the depth of their expertise and knowledge, use your IC processes to let everyone know - it’s a great confidence builder.
Battling with someone over the future of an important project…sound familiar? In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack battles Oogie Boogie over the future of Christmas, and they eventually concede that Sandy Claws is better placed to take the reins, as the true expert. It can be difficult to articulate your feelings and even more so to accept defeat. Express your thoughts to your colleagues in a balanced, calm, and inclusive manner. This should lead everyone to the right conclusion in most situations, and win you lots of respect.
Not strictly a Christmas movie, but all the action takes place during the festive season in Bridget Jones's Diary so we’re saying it counts. The storyline makes a good case for not judging people on first impressions. Give everyone a fair chance, even those in Christmas jumpers knitted by their gran (which are now very cool). Bridget found her perfect partner and you could find a great work ally if you invest the time.
In the tiny town of Smeerensburg in the movie Klaus, the residents know that the best way to live is to build bridges instead of walls. In your company, break down any silos and start talking to all of your colleagues, not just your immediate team members and people you regularly work with. If any previous conflict remains unresolved, use the season of goodwill to extend an olive branch and start the New Year on a happier note.
In Last Christmas, our protagonist’s trauma after a near-death experience changes her outlook on life, until a mysterious work colleague helps Kate to rediscover her purpose. We see how self-love enables Kate to reconcile her relationships and start helping others again. Sometimes the help we might typically seek outside the workplace can also be found within it. Emotional intelligence and mental health awareness should always be on the employee engagement agenda.
Finally, the third Code of the Elves in the classic movie Elf is "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Make sure that your positive messages are inclusive and echoed throughout your organization, from the boardroom to the front line.
Start spreading your festive cheer now, by taking some tips from the Christmas heroes on this list. And learn from our villains on how to avoid seasonal gloom…