How to Greet the Seasons at Work 1-2-3

Here's 3 easy steps to help busy executives get holiday internal communications right.

Seasons greetings. Ramadaan Kareem. Happy holidays. Joyous Kwanzaa. Happy Chanukah. Happy Diwali. Merry Christmas. Shanah Tovah. Lunar New Year happiness.

Genuinely saying the right thing at the right moment is a cornerstone of internal and executive communications.

For leaders, a misstep around holiday time--or potentially even worse, omitting the acknowledgment of any particular milestone held dear by even a handful of team members--can take an executive from hero to zero faster than one can say "Eid Mubarak."

Holiday Greetings Really Do Count

You might be surprised by the level of impact holiday communications create, especially when it comes to fostering meaningful belonging.

In the accurate words of Eric Peterson, as quoted by SHRM, "One way to not be inclusive is to make somebody feel invisible, to make them feel as though the organization just has no idea who they are, what is pleasing to them and what is offensive."

With all things belonging under attack or even dismantled at present, it may feel tricky to celebrate everyone in a way that is authentic and does no harm. Be bold: now is THE time to foster belonging that counts.

We're living in a moment when it's paramount to stand for what's right and support every member of the team with gusto.

Over more than two decades crafting high-impact executive communications strategies, I've learned how to get holiday messages right:

1. You've got to send meaningful holiday messages - they matter

2. Do your homework

3. Make zero assumptions

   
   

1. Do send thoughtful holiday greetings - always

Focusing on goals matters. Your team's morale matters more: fostering belonging isn't just ethically the absolute right thing to do (and it is 100% that). People who love their jobs perform better (duh).

Of all the types of communications executives send, holiday greetings get some of the best response rates and most mentions on employee-engagement surveys, as well as strong qualitative feedback in the form of thank-you messages and the like.

Staff notice and appreciate when a wide range of both important celebrations and somber milestones are acknowledged by leadership. And most of all? Staff notice when you don't bother to wish them well; in fact, they may never forget your lack of genuine connection with them.

2. Do your homework

Having been in an interfaith marriage for even longer than I've worked in communications, if I had a nickel for every time someone said something bizarre and inaccurate like "Enjoy lighting your menorah for Rosh Hashanah," I'd be typing this blog from my own private island sipping a nice drink.

Use AI to test and refine your messages (I still advocate that you write messages yourself or at least tweak and personalize - your team knows your tone and manner, trust me). But AI -- while sometimes imperfect around cultural competency -- usually can help you get your facts right.

Better still, train a GPT (ask AI for easy steps if you don't know how). Load in your business values and cultural-competency ethos. That GPT will become your exponentially more reliable assistant writer.

You can additionally seek out your HR team, belonging-focused leaders, or gently ask someone you trust who has lived experience (be sure to do so in a way that doesn't put the person on the spot) to read your planned holiday message, and be sure there are no glaring errors.

Mary Christmas doesn't cut it.

Even a simple misspelling of an important holiday for any culture can be highly offensive. Likewise, imagery is so important. You want staff to know that all winter holidays matter to you? Don't send out a multi-holiday message featuring a Christmas tree.

It's important to message, but it's even more important to message correctly. Research!

3. Make zero assumptions

Many executives message about only the milestones they celebrate themselves. That's plain wrong. It demonstrates a lack of humanity, and it's also really poor business practice.

I encourage executives to offer "Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate." Who doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, you ask? Some of your valued team members, that's who. "We know Mother's Day may represent a challenging period for some. We send everyone peace this weekend." That's right too. For someone who had a difficult parental relationship, or who has sadly lost a parent or child, the moments many of us may take for granted as joyous can be fraught with mixed feelings.

When it comes to holiday messages, don't make any assumptions.

You don't need to be stiff either. Be genuine and real. Read your message through the lens of a variety of team members' perspectives, and you'll do a better job of communicating your good intent.

Happy holidays

May the gifts of warmth and light, common to many celebrations, be with you all year through. And, may light lead us always from dark times to peace.

This post is an update to a piece originally created in the thick of 2020's pandemic, revised for the thick of 2025.

April Dawn Shinske is an integrated marketing communications professional with more than two decades of experience crafting messages that transform team members into brand ambassadors. Connect at aprildawnshinske@gmail.com

Copyright November 2025, April Dawn Shinske. All rights reserved. Please cite authorship and link back to aprildawnshinske.com when sharing content. Thank you.