Aja Macheel
When holidays, birthdays and special milestones are upon us in our personal lives, no one needs a reminder to buy a great gift for that special someone. A spouse, child, best friend, family member or otherwise is always the top of our list. These gifts are ones that we put thought and care into every year because we know the recipients, what they’ll love, what they need. Automated within each of us is a reminder to get something wonderful for these people to really make them feel special and delighted, and it feels good to really nail it and see our loved ones light up.
But what about the workplace? Contrary to gift giving at home, holidays and milestones in the workplace can feel entirely daunting. The “joy of giving” quickly fades when we question who to give gifts to, what to give and if we should be spending on our bosses, employees or co-workers.
Let’s face it: You like them, you like some a lot more than others. You don’t want to spend a fortune, but you don’t want to do nothing. You don’t have a lot of time, and this feels like another thing, but you really do care. If you have employees, how do you make them feel seen and appreciated for all the hard work they’ve done? How do you cover everyone, so no one feels left out? How do you individually give, versus give to a group?
Many of us spend just as much time with our coworking community as we do with our families at home, and recognizing those people in an intentional way can be not only fun, but mutually rewarding. Your gift can also make an impression that will go a long way by boosting morale and workplace culture. Alternatively, cutting corners or giving a half effort can unintentionally have a negative impact how you present your view of them.
Putting in effort matters. If it’s been a while since you’ve made effort of intentional giving in the workplace, it’s time to step up your game.
Some of the tips below will create a joyful giving experience for not only you but your colleagues:
Not all sugar is created equal: Maybe you’re thinking of grabbing a box of donuts or a sheet cake from the grocery store to throw on the table at work for the holidays. This can seem like an easy go-to, but let’s be honest, it also feels like an afterthought. The office sheet cake is a familiar sight and becomes a love/hate fixture in the breakroom for the next week.
So, how can you level up your sugar game? Local bakeries are always open early and have the freshest batches of unique sweets ready to go. The bakery can customize anything on the spot by adding a name or message. Consider buying something for the sugar-free colleague too, like croissants or fresh bagels. If you’re buying something for an individual, find out what they really like. Consider others and their food preferences. They may prefer a basket of fresh fruit or a great bottle of wine instead of refined sugar. Maybe it’s a certain sweet or beverage that is individual to them. Taking the extra time and thought here will make a big payoff. They’ll know you considered them and went the extra mile.
Flower power: Who doesn’t love flowers? If you think someone deserves a brighter day, this is your ticket. For every person, there is a plant or flower they’ll love — a little bit of life and greenery feels hopeful and fun. However, just as stated above, be careful your flowers don’t seem like an afterthought. Avoid the wilted cellophane-wrapped bulk flowers from the corner market or grocery store. Make sure they’re in a vase so they stay fresh. Find a local florist who will make something fresh and specific for you: Your company colors, their favorite colors or their favorite sports team colors are always possible. Add a card and have it delivered to really make it feel special.
Another fun floral idea is to individually recognize someone by giving them flowers to wear for a day. There’s no way they’ll avoid feeling special with a boutonniere, corsage, flower crown or lei. Having something made will feel specific and intentional — and most florists love customizing on the spot.
Make a lasting impression: Giving a long-lasting gift will be a constant reminder of your gesture and appreciation. For a large group of people in the workplace, consider something everyone can enjoy. Is it an office upgrade? A new comfortable breakroom chair? Furnish your office with large plants for everyone to enjoy. Hire a weekly flower drop-off for the front desk. Find a local artist to paint a fun mural in your space or let your employees design a space that’s their own. Local T-shirt shops can make fun and creative apparel for your team. For individuals, consider a beautiful indoor plant or flower, a custom recognition plaque or something that you know is unique to them. Go the extra mile by really noticing someone’s space and what is important to them and try to give accordingly.
Intentional giving on a budget: Let’s face it, we can’t spend all of our hard-earned dollars on workplace gifts. Sometimes there is just no money in our budget to really show someone we work with how much we care. There are quite a few ways to show others how much you care in a meaningful and intentional way without spending a dime. Being and feeling seen for what we do at work is one of the greatest gifts. Sit down with a pen and paper and let each person know what you individually appreciate about them or take the opportunity publicly to give a team or individual specific accolades for their accomplishments. Take a large piece of poster board around your workplace to gather messages from others. Everyone loves a card from the group. Simply put: Finding a way to sincerely recognize your colleagues can be the greatest gift.
It’s OK to ask: Look, sometimes we’re just plumb out of ideas. If you’re still stumped, don’t be afraid to ask the group for input! Who says it should be a surprise? By bringing everyone together to ask what they would love the most, you may find that you have some fresh ideas, and everyone will be invested in participating. Maybe as a group you can come up with an experience or reward that will be fun and inclusive for all. Gather intel from other colleagues when buying gifts for someone individually — maybe they know that person’s favorite things. Going the extra mile here will make your gift intentional and unique, without a doubt.
Giving is important and meaningful. It doesn’t have to be materialistic. In fact, it’s much better if it's intentional. These little moments of joy are important in our workplaces, our work life and with our colleagues, and as we continue to care about and recognize each other, we’ll create a better world around us.
Aja Macheel is the visual designer at Cactus & Tropicals in Salt Lake City and has been creating beautiful spaces along the Wasatch Front for over 15 Years.