Happy December! I asked more than 100 professionals about the best gift they ever received from a client, vendor, partner, boss, or colleague. As my heartfelt gift to you, I offer The Twelve Gifts of Christmas, inspired by the responses of the executives and business leaders who shared with me.
One: Wisdom and Expertise
Giving a favorite fiction or business-related book is not a novel idea (yes, pun intended), yet several of our respondents listed inspirational books. Nikkole shared that an EMBA student gave her In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs on the final day of class, while Matt offered up My Personal Best: Life Lessons from an All-American Journey.
A favorite gift I've received was from a beautiful friend and client: The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea. Another idea for sharing expertise with another is an annual Masterclass subscription. Currently, thousands of lessons from the best in the world are available via a two-for-one holiday deal (as of early December). Justin, an airline executive, noted, "I found that to be a great gift when I have downtime to learn something interesting/new."
Two: A Kind Gesture
When asked about the best professional gift she ever received, Dawn told a story about when she first opened her retail location. The owner of a competing bridal salon stopped by with a bottle of wine and a card. "This built a beautiful relationship going forward," she shared. "We could refer each other business and chat about where we thought the future of our business was going. Smart thinking to having a friend in the industry. Plus, it was a very chic move on her part…classy!"
Julie, a director of sales in the event space, noted another kind gesture: “The best professional gift I received was unexpected PTO over the holidays.”
Three: Inspiration
Another favorite gift I have received—and since given—is the Passion Planner. Each day, I map out my goals and objectives, which coincide with more extensive monthly and annual roadmaps of what I want to accomplish. It has been my creative outlet during the pandemic and has helped me push on as a small business owner. And yes, I've already ordered the 2021 version as a gift to myself!
Four: Experiences
When asked about the best gift he received, attorney Kyle responded with several thoughts. Yet, upon reflection, he said, "Some of the most memorable ones were being taken to a baseball game or dinners." These days, experienced-based events might look different, but a well-executed virtual wine tasting or a Zoom cooking class are fantastic ways to continue relationships with clients and partners during the pandemic.
Five: Useful Consumption
I met Jana when she was my team leader for an assignment in Seattle, and it was no surprise that her response centered around coffee. "I got a coffee cup Hydro Flask and a pound of coffee very nicely packaged in a gift box," she shared. Cathy, another former colleague and current HR VP, had several ideas, including Visa gift cards for her team to purchase a nice dinner or massage. "Last year, I gave my team Barefoot Dreams blankets," she said.
Six: Recognition and Encouragement
Robyn offered, "Several outstanding gifts came to mind, as for 20 years I worked for a company that considered their employees to be their most valued resource. To that end, this luxury hotel brand consistently delivered thoughtful, memorable, and personalized gifts to their associates. One platform for gift giving that is perhaps the most interesting—and also the most exciting—for the recipient: 'Lightning Strikes!'"
She continued to detail how the program represented a moment in time when performance or achievement at work warranted immediate and special attention. Robyn mentioned three components that made this program stand out: recognition on a rather large scale, the surprise of it all, and the personalized intention. "At a time of year when one might feel obligated to give gifts," she shares, "it's worth remembering that thoughtfulness can be sent at any time."
Seven: Personal Touch
I received an overwhelming amount of personal responses. Ramona, a marketing leader, explained her gift-giving approach well, "I like to make sure it's something they really will enjoy, and which is so different based on the person/client."
Colleen, a hospitality exec, recalls a cherished gift: "I worked with a vendor who was great at creating ways to connect that felt genuine…not the transactional feeling that often occurs." She received a beautiful Tiffany red heart paperweight just after her son was born. Colleen realized that the vendor knew it would be hard coming back to work and leaving her son for the day, "and this giver wanted me to have something that made me smile. It sits on my desk 17 years later,” and it still makes her smile.
Matt mentioned a crystal ornament, also from Tiffany & Co. "Every Christmas, I still remember the boss who gave it to me. It comes in the blue Tiffany & Co. box, and it's really classy."
Eight: Memory-Based
Just because a gift is professional doesn't mean it can't be personal and elicit an emotional feeling. Vandana, a top real estate broker, shared that she received a digital picture frame from a vendor friend. "It's my favorite gift ever! I find myself staring at the rotating pictures from time to time." Cathy also fondly remembers a picture frame given by a former boss, "I still love those frames that she made with the quotes people wrote about us."
Nine: Nature and Beauty
Addie, a graphic design expert, shared a thoughtful gift idea that is perfect in the days of quarantine: "My old boss sent me a beautiful plant before I even started the job. I still have it and love it because it reminds me of my time at a job where I loved the work and people."
A former leader I worked for believed in relaxation—and spa days—so the gift of manicures or pedicures is always welcomed around here. My husband, an attorney, enjoys treating his assistant (a beauty enthusiast) with gift cards to Sephora or local spas. Is there someone on your team who would love this type of gift who might never treat him or herself?
Ten: Team Spirit
In her response, Farah recalled several fondly remembered gifts from her airline's former CFO. "He truly embodied the Delta spirit and pride. His gifts for each person in his organization were always something people could wear as a "badge of honor." She went on to talk about several thoughtful company-branded gifts, like a convertible Tumi jacket/travel neck pillow and a Columbia lightweight jacket.
"We all wore it proudly everywhere we went and took on our travels," she says of the Tumi jacket. "What this did for us was build a sense of pride in our team and company—a pride that we happily displayed when we used our travel benefits to travel the world. It's a pride I will always hold near and dear." Other respondents named company branded apparel like fleeces and cozy hoodies.
Eleven: Tech and Efficiency
Some people listed phone apps that came highly recommended, such as Hours Tracker for small business owners or the Five Minute Journal. Matt had a fabulous gift idea to give our phones some TLC in 2020: the PhoneSoap UV phone sanitizer (which had a 20% off bundle special as of press time).
Brandy, a service business VP, always has the latest tech gadget, so I was eagerly awaiting her response. She once received a Rocketbook as a gift; she explained, "This reusable notebook has an app to digitize notes; it keeps me organized. I can still use a pen, but my notes end up in the cloud. I can erase and start again."
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas: Advice
Chad, a chief accounting officer, shared this story about the best professional gift he received back in 2011: "We were going through the great recession, and the finance company I was running was really struggling. I had two small children, and the stress was very high. I remember talking to my older brother and telling him how anxious I was. I did not know what I was going to do if my job ended. He told me to get more education."
He explained that while he had a bachelor's degree in business management, he felt there was nothing to set him apart. "My brother looked me in the eye and said, "no one can take education away from you—go back to school." I took his advice, and I worked all day and went to school at night and on weekends to get my MBA." Chad recalls this time as challenging and exhausting, but worth it since it qualified him for the role he has today. "If I hadn't listened that day, I would not have the dream job I have now. I am thankful to an older brother who gave me such good advice that has changed the course of my career."
As we experience the magic of the holiday season and look forward to the fresh slate of a fast-approaching new year, I wish you health, safety, and joy.