It's thought that the seasonal increase in absence from work might not simply be due to bugs and viruses. Lack of daylight had been attributed to winter blues or SAD.
When we encounter stress, conflict or depression, those around us may see a change in our behaviour.
Some people become more introverted and analytical, others might suddenly appear more demanding while a third group will go from being hard working and productive to disinterested and lazy.
In a team a change in behaviour like this can upset the balance and lower morale across the group. There are questionnaires that can help to identify how, why and importantly when our behaviour can alter. Popular examples include Belbin Team Roles and the Strength Deployment Inventory.
For a team to perform at it's best, time should be spent understanding the different personalities in the group and not just within a work context.
The most effective teams routinely invest time in their development. They might set aside half a day to complete and discuss a psychometric questionnaire or simply head out into the countryside to get some fresh air and to have some fun together.
Dan Collins from team building experts Fresh Tracks suggests "On one hand technology has led to great improvements in business communication. We can now talk to any number of people, anywhere in the world, at any time of day for virtually no cost. The flip side of this increased breadth of communication is a working population with relationships a mile wide but an inch deep."
As businesses seek to become more innovative and operate more efficiently it's essential to make time for significant conversations and to build the relationships that are so essential in a modern organization.
Long cold nights needn't mean a SAD and lonely workforce.
