The holiday season is a perfect opportunity to express gratitude and strengthen the bonds with your team. Thoughtful gestures, no matter how big or small, can leave a lasting impact. However, finding the right gift that resonates with everyone can be a challenge, especially with diverse preferences, budgets, and organizational norms. This guide will help you navigate the gifting process with creative ideas tailored to your team’s unique needs and interests.
Here are five things to consider, with ideas to fit every budget:
1. How Well Do You Know Your Team?
If you know your team well, this is the time to show it with a personal gift. As a leader, your team sees you as a guide, and they appreciate being seen, heard, and valued by you.
One of my favorite gifts from a leader was a mug personalized with my top StrengthsFinder results. It was thoughtful and inspiring, and though I don’t drink coffee or tea, I keep it on my desk as a reminder of my strengths.
If you haven’t done a StrengthsFinder assessment with your team, you could still create a custom gift highlighting a key strength you see in each team member.
Want to organize a StrengthsFinder workshop for your team in 2025? Learn more by visiting this page.
2. How Diverse Is Your Team?
If your team shares common interests, a group activity like a spa day or a golf outing can be a fantastic gift. However, if your team is more diverse, it’s essential to find something inclusive that resonates with everyone. Challenge yourself to find a shared interest across your team. If everyone has a dog, why not arrange a dog-friendly outing with treats and toys? It’s a fun, inclusive way to celebrate your team’s uniqueness.
3. What Are Your Organization’s Norms Around Gifting?
Understanding your organization’s culture and norms around gifting is essential, as expectations may vary. If your organization gives out end of year bonuses, or provides everyone a box of expensive candy each year, doing something extra with your team might feel excessive. However, if every team in the organization seems to be having holiday parties and internal gift exchanges, you might want to emulate the norm. In many cases, asking your team what they’d like to do together can take the stress out of it for you, and provide you with ideas.
On the other hand If your workplace frowns on gift giving and you WANT to do something special for your team, there are still things you can do that feel special and don’t violate norms. Here are some ideas:
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- Take individual team members out for lunch.
- Allocate some of your budget toward better office equipment that improves their work experience.
- Gift a personal development book for team discussion in January (suggested titles: Likable Badass , Atomic Habits , or The Four Agreements)
- Organize a creative team-building session like a “Wheel of Life” activity or a self-discovery workshop.
These alternatives create value and bring people closer together while also staying within organizational norms.
4. What Is Your Budget?
Gift-giving doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. Here are a few budget-friendly ideas:
Low Budget:
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- Journals with a handwritten note inside. Use this script to make it simple: “I’ve really appreciated your [specific quality or contribution]. The positive impact of this on our team/organization has been [specific outcome]. I look forward to a successful 2025 with you!”
- A potluck with a white elephant gift exchange
- A zoom potluck for virtual teams with virtual games
Medium Budget:
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- A catered lunch with your team that can include anything from a secret santa gift exchange to appreciation awards with gift certificates, to professional development gifts such as books or workshops.
High Budget:
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- One of the most powerful team building experiences you can give your team is a retreat, even if it’s only for one day or night. This is where a golf outing, spa day, or a weekend trip to a resort can be a great way to celebrate together. If you’d like your retreat to be more than a celebration, and bond people closely, contact Nahid to custom develop a personalized retreat for you and your team.
5. What Does Your Team Value Most?
Some teams value fun and stress relief, while others are growth-oriented:
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- For a fun-loving team, organize a white elephant exchange.
- For a stressed team, consider giving gift certificates for relaxing activities like massages or botanical garden visits.
- For growth-oriented teams, offer a professional development workshop or a coach to kick-start their new year.
Know your team’s values and choose accordingly.
Three Key Questions to Help You Decide:
- Do I want to bring the team together to celebrate, or do I want to give individual gifts?
- What are my budget parameters?
- How personal do I want the gesture to be?
With these questions in mind, refer to the gift ideas outlined above or explore this visual guide:
Conclusion
Holiday gifting doesn’t have to be stressful. By considering your team’s diversity, preferences, and your budget, you can create a meaningful gesture that resonates with everyone. Whether you choose a personalized gift, a shared experience, or a developmental opportunity, the thoughtfulness behind your gesture is what matters most. This holiday season, let your gifts reflect the gratitude and appreciation you feel for your team. They’ll remember it long after the season is over!
