For most of us, the last week leading up to Christmas and the New Year holidays is a frantic time. There’s presents to buy, parties to attend and final loose ends to be tied up before the office or workplace closes down for a week or two.
We wanted to take a moment now to thank you for all your hard work during the year and share with you something light and entertaining to take your mind off the frantic Xmas time.
Have you got all your office Christmas presents sorted? An article that’s been doing the rounds the last few weeks comes from the Wall Street Cheat Sheet. It offers some tips on what NOT to buy this holiday for your workmates or clients.
1. Something used
Some people wait until the last minute to buy a gift for the secret Santa pool, and instead of quickly buying a gift card, they decide to re-gift an item they’ve already received. Generally best to refrain from pushing the idea of re-gifting to the extreme and giving a co-worker the shirt you wore yesterday, a toaster you’ve already used all week (with crumbs in it), or something that’s non-functional!
2. A self-help (or how to do your job better) book
If you draw your boss’s name, would you ever think about giving him a book entitled Management for Dummies or Manager to Leader: Skills and Insights for a Successful Transition? These books almost always send out the wrong message: “You are not very good at your job, here’s a book to help you.”
3. A 10% off coupon
As the subject of many sitcoms, the old “here’s a coupon for 10% off at my store if you buy 20 items” gift makes fun of just how cheap people can really be. Gifts where the recipient has to shell out money to redeem the gift’s value are not really gifts, they’re deals. You don’t want to be the one who gave your colleague a deal for Christmas.
Avoiding these sorts of gifts will ensure that things at your workplace remain harmonious during the holiday season – take note those of you still doing your Xmas shopping.
Hopefully 2014 was a year where you and your chapter were able to achieve your goals – large and small. Whatever the year held for you, 2015 offers a fresh start for new referrals, more business and greater growth. Enjoy your break and we’ll see you refreshed and ready for more BNI in the New Year. Happy holidays everybody from the BNI Support Team!
