The gift-giving season is the ideal time to reward staff for all their work throughout the year. But it’s not always easy to figure out what to give your staff.
If you’re still looking for some last-minute gift ideas for your team, here are some helpful guidelines to keep in mind:
> Personalize it
The go-to gift of a box of chocolates might make sense for your mail carrier or office cleaner. But it doesn’t really cut it for key staff members who work with you to keep your business humming, says Joanne Blake, business etiquette coach with Style for Success Inc. in Edmonton. (Blake knows of an advisor’s assistant who quit her job shortly after receiving a box of chocolates from her boss as a holiday gift).
Instead, choosing a gift with some thought toward the individuality of the recipient — a cinema gift card for a movie buff, for example — shows that you have taken the time to get to know your staff.
> Use your words
While a gift of almost any kind is a thoughtful gesture, it’s the sentiment that goes with it that will carry true meaning for the recipient, says Shannon Waller, director and teamwork coach with Strategic Coach in Toronto. Take time to write a thoughtful card, Waller says, expressing appreciation for the way the team member has contributed to the business.
Says Waller: “Your words of appreciation will dramatically add to the value of whatever you choose to give.”
> Group it
Blake highly recommends giving staff members a gift of a shared experience. Going out for a meal together is always appreciated, she says. A more unusual encounter can be worthwhile, too.
Depending on the tastes of your staff, experiences can range from a guided kayak trip or ski day to a gourmet cooking class or tango lesson. These types of gifts allow staff to get to know each other outside the office, Blake says, and help build loyalty.
> Give them time off
Because the holidays are so frenetic for most of us, Waller says, giving staff extra time away from the office is always appreciated.
“Time off in between the holidays with people’s families,” she says, “is actually the biggest gift of all.”
It’s also a good idea to recognize family in other ways, agrees Blake. For instance, gifts that can be shared with family members — such as restaurant gift cards and food baskets — are also a nice touch.
> Charity counts
Your staff might appreciate your taking the philanthropic approach to gifting. One idea, Waller says, is to provide staff with a budget and give them an afternoon to shop for one needy family in their community.
One of her clients makes the giving even more memorable with an initiative he calls “Angels on the Street.” On a Friday afternoon two weeks before Christmas, each staff member gets $100, with the assignment to give it to someone who really needs it.
On the following Monday, they sit together and share their stories. Says Waller: “He brought his team together in ways he could never have foreseen.”