Gift giving for the work place can be a challenging task. Whether it’s an office party, an upcoming holiday, or just a simple “Thank You”, it’s often hard to know what’s going to be the perfect fit. Every office environment has a variety of people working in it. Below are some techniques of observation that you can exercise to discover just the right gift for any person at your office:
1. Look at their workspace – if it’s cluttered with post-it notes, then a nice paper and pen set may be the gift of choice.
2. Notice the lunch patterns of your office mates, if someone always seems to bring back a cup from Panera Bread or McDonald’s – then a gift card may be highly appreciated.
3. Watch the breakroom – as anyone leaving more than three times a day with a cup of coffee may be an addict who will surely appreciate a Starbucks gift card or pound of coffee.
4. Be on the lookout throughout the year for people who decorate for any holidays – even a little. For them, a small trinket for their Christmas-Decorated desk could win them over.
5. Keep an eye on the office radio, or the music others are listening to – if someone is always listening to music, then a gift card to Amazon.com or any local music store would show that you’re listening to them.
6. On Monday mornings and Friday afternoons listen to the office talk (and join in) – listen for any hobbies or interesting adventures. These are powerful clues as to what each person chooses to do in their upcoming or recently passed free time. Match this knowledge up with a book or gift card relating to it and you’ve found a winner!
7. When in doubt as to what to get, use your intuition and go for one of the following:
- Aromatic Candle in a jar
- Grocery store gift card
- Bookstore gift card
- Coffee shop gift card
- Cinema gift certificate
- Blockbuster gift certificate.
In addition to these tips, be aware that any small gift will always be accepted. It’s when you start giving gifts of value over $15 or so that people become noticeably uneasy. So keep the gifts small and meaningful. It’s the heart behind the gift that matters most – so always include a card explaining why you felt so drawn to give your gift. Mentioning any good deed done by them towards you will suffice very well for the reason behind the gift.
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