I have a dear friend who loves wintertime. She enjoys warm blankets, hot beverages and snuggling with loved ones into a near hibernation state. While I don’t exactly feel the same way, I certainly understand the value of winter. It’s a time where there is so much going on, just below the surface, although it is largely invisible above ground. I think this is honestly the dynamic my wise friend really appreciates about winter, that it is a time of preparation and rejuvenation.

Managers and leaders have a lot of tasks that mimic the vibe of winter (no matter which season of the year they are actually done). Things such as annual reviews, policies, performance metrics and of course, budgets. Each of these can take quite a lot of time and effort, without necessarily feeling like we have a lot to show for them. And although we would all agree these things are integral to success, they can feel like winter… a bit bleak and cold.

So how do you add a little spring or even summer warmth to these kinds of tasks?

1. Remember their value. It’s always easier to do something when you see its value. Let’s use policies as our example… having rock solid policies helps everyone to know what expectations exist, how they can meet them and what could happen if they don’t. When employees know those, they can feel free to focus on other things, without having to worry about inadvertently mis-stepping.
2. Take comfort in the fact they are usually “one and done.” When these tasks have been completed, you can declare victory and move forward. In most workplaces, although you keep the budget in view year-round, you usually only go through the hard work of developing and refining it once a year. Once it’s done, you certainly work the plan but won’t have to think too much about it again.
3. Know that “summer” is coming and you will see the fruits of your “winter” work. I mentioned my sweet friend who loves winter. Well, I have another friend who doesn’t feel the same way. She always jokes that if someone calls you at 4:00pm in December, for plans later that same day, you tend to feel like the day is basically done and you are just trying to get home and into your pajamas. Contrast that with a call in July, when at 4:00pm you still have plenty of daylight left. Completed annual reviews with tangible goals and deadlines, rock solid policies, excellent performance metrics and an accurate budget feel like the latter. They are taken care of, and you still have plenty of life left in you.

Winter doesn’t always get a lot of love, but it really is the season that sets the stage for all the others. The deep work of winter (whether literal or metaphorical) provides the foundation that will carry you through the rest of the year. So, the next time you find yourself with a “wintry” task, bundle up and remember, you are braving the cold now, so you can thoroughly enjoy the warm days ahead.