If you have ever been an employee in December, not an IC professional but simply someone trying to finish the year, you know how heavy the communication load can feel.
Wrap-ups, surveys, thank-you videos, department messages, project summaries, culture posts, and the familiar “one last update before the break”.
What December Feels Like for Employees
Most people are not rejecting communication. They are drowning in it. They want to finish their work, close the year properly, and prepare for time off. What they do not want is a floodof updates when their attention is already stretched thin.
Employees value it when IC teams step back. Stillness feels respectful. Breathing room feels supportive. One clear message is far more meaningful than a stream of content they cannot absorb.
Practical Ways to Respect the Employee Experience
• Replace quantity with intention
Onewell-crafted message beats five competing ones.
• Send a simple “see you in January”note
Employees prefer clean closure, not a long holiday video.
• Choose visuals instead of heavy scripts
A still, a graphic, or a warm thank-you visual often lands better than a multi-minute video they will not watch.
• Give them space to process
Not every moment needs a communication touchpoint. Silence is a gift.
December is a reflective season. When IC teams slow down, employees feel considered, not managed. That is where trust
Do you run regular pulse checks to understand what employees want during high-pressure periods? We can support you with an audience profiling exercise to tailor your communication cadence, especially when holding back is the smarter move.
