Twenty Ten Talent

Gifting giving in my household has always been a bit sticky. My dad always bought himself the newest electronics on the market. So when it was time to buy him something, there wasn’t anything that he wanted that he didn’t already have. And he would tell you that almost every time he opened your present. My mother was gracious when she received a gift, but never closely looked at it until weeks later. Then she would gush over the details of a hand-woven basket or the exotic origin of a handmade nativity scene. My brother was easy to buy gifts for. He loved everything and was humbled each time someone took the time to pick up a gift for him.

These various temperaments challenged me to be purposeful and thoughtful in my selections. I wanted to impress my family. And that experience prepared me for gift giving when the stakes are higher, choosing a gift for someone you work with. Here are some tips on how to approach gift giving to help you stand out.

It takes a village
Gift giving is a team effort. If you don’t know enough about the person to make the gift specific to his or her likes, do some research. Ask the people who work with the intended recipient most frequently for recommendations, like an executive assistant or a close friend. This research will help produce a thoughtful gift that shows appreciation for your working relationship. But don’t give a gift to build a relationship that doesn’t exist. It won’t come across as genuine.

Be discreet
If you are giving gifts to only a select few, like people on our team or close friends, don’t give the gifts in front of others. You don’t want to leave someone feeling purposefully left out. You can leave gifts in people’s mailboxes or place them on desks after most people have cleared out of the office for the evening.

Know when your recipient is leaving for the holidays
Give the gift before the person is out for an extended period of time. Many people take a vacation during the holiday season. The exact days may reflect cultural or religious affiliations and obligations. You don’t want to leave a gift on someone’s desk after they’ve left for a two week vacation. If the person doesn’t get it until the next year, you can come across as a bit disorganized or a procrastinator.

Include a gift receipt
This is the most appropriate time for gift receipts. It’s not only considerate, but also thorough to include one. Instead of dwelling on what to do with a gift that wasn’t exactly the right fit, the gift receiver can exchange it discreetly.

Post by Christian McKenzie

Christian McKenzie is a retail marketer who has worked for Macy’s, Sears and NBC. Currently she’s an Account Manager for Pear, formerly Apparel Media Group. You can follow her journey on Twitter at @xian_mckenzie.