December is a tricky month for small businesses.
Staff are tired. Customers are distracted. Deadlines pile up. And motivation? It tends to drop the closer holidays get.
But it doesn’t have to.
Even if you’re not able to offer big bonuses, extra promotions or major perks, there are simple, people-focused things you can do to keep your team energised and engaged through the final stretch of the year.
Here are 10 practical, low-cost ways to keep your employees motivated in December and finish the year strong.
1. Bring clarity to the chaos
December often feels messy. Priorities shift, unexpected tasks appear, and everyone’s juggling work with personal commitments.
Give your team instant relief by:
- Clarifying your top 3 priorities for the month
- Calling out what won’t get done until January
- Making workloads visible and manageable
2. Introduce “December wins Fridays”
Why not try ending each week acknowledging something that went well to help lift motivation levels, and also provide a great opportunity for recognition.
This can be a:
- Quick team huddle
- Group message
- Handwritten note
- Shoutout in your project tool
3. Give people flexibility where you can
You don’t need big financial incentives to motivate people. Sometimes what they want most is flexibility.
Offer small but meaningful options like:
- A slightly earlier finish on a Friday
- A work-from-home day
- A longer lunch one day a week
- Flexing hours around school events
These gestures build goodwill and energise teams during the busiest time of year.
4. Lighten the load with micro-adjustments
If your team is stretched, don’t wait for burnout.
Make small adjustments like:
- Removing low-value tasks
- Postponing meetings
- Simplifying processes
- Reducing “nice to have” deadlines
- Outsourcing a temporary admin task
5. Make the work more meaningful
In small businesses, showing impact matters more than ever.
Help your team see the difference they’re still making by sharing:
- Customer wins
- Testimonials
- Small business milestones
- The impact of projects completed this year
- “What would help you feel more supported this month?”
- “Where are you feeling pressure?”
- “What would make December easier for you?”
6. Celebrate progress, not just end results
December isn’t always about finishing things—it’s about wrapping things up well.
Create a culture of progress by celebrating:
- Finalising drafts
- Closing tasks from earlier in the year
- Clearing clutter
- Completing training modules
- Improving systems for January
7. Add a small element of fun
A little December fun helps:
- Team competitions (e.g., tidy inbox challenge)
- Festive morning teas
- A decorated workspace
- Secret Santa with a tiny budget
- A playlist everyone contributes to
8. Take 10 minutes to ask what they need
One of the most powerful motivators in December is feeling heard.
9. Protect their focus time
December is chaotic, but chaos doesn’t have to derail productivity.
Try:
- A daily focus hour
- Meeting-free blocks
- Clear communication guidelines
- Avoiding last-minute tasks where possible
Protecting focus shows your team that you respect their time—and they’ll repay that respect with higher motivation.
10. End the year with appreciation, not exhaustion
This is the most important one.
People remember how they feel at the end of the year. If they finish December burnt out, they start January disengaged.
But if they finish the year feeling appreciated, acknowledged and supported, they return with higher loyalty and motivation.
Take time to:
- Thank people individually
- Call out their strengths
- Recognise the challenges they’ve overcome
- Acknowledge the effort they put in all year
It costs nothing—and it’s worth everything.
Small businesses don’t have endless budgets, promotion layers or corporate perks to keep people motivated.
But the good news is:
Most employees don’t need those things. They need clarity, appreciation, flexibility, and connection.
Have HR issues taken over your workload this year? Book a free 30-min consultation with our team to discuss how we can support your requirements moving forward.