| Giving an appropriate gift in a professional setting | | | | response. A little career humor, such as Dave |
| can be difficult. You may know your coworkers | | | | Barry's "Claw Your Way to the Top: How to |
| well, but often not well enough to make shopping | | | | Become the Head of a Major Corporation in |
| for an appropriate gift easy. | | | | Roughly a Week" may be much more fun for |
| Quite a bit depends on whether you are shopping | | | | them. Other books may also be worth |
| for a man or a woman. There will be different | | | | considering. |
| preferences for each. A woman, for example, will | | | | Some offices have a little fun. Fun gadgets for |
| likely enjoy a spa gift certificate, while a man | | | | cubicle warfare or for the geeky side of people |
| probably won't be all that enthusiastic about the | | | | may also be a good idea. Just keep it to a level |
| idea. | | | | appropriate to your office. |
| The other big factor is your budget. Are you | | | | Gift baskets are another great idea. You can buy |
| shopping for something just from you, or from | | | | ready made ones or customize one without an |
| other coworkers as well? Obviously a group gift | | | | excess of effort. Fine chocolates for the |
| will generally have a better budget and you will | | | | chocolate lover, gourmet coffee for the office |
| want to choose something that everyone will be | | | | coffee fiend, and so forth. If you know they love |
| happy about giving. | | | | something you can probably make a gift basket |
| Gift certificates are something of a perennial | | | | themed around it. |
| favorite. Think about dinner for two at a good | | | | Engraved gifts are also quite popular. It can be a |
| restaurant. You never want to do it for one, since | | | | lovely way to commemorate an achievement. |
| most of your coworkers will have somebody | | | | Perhaps the most important thing is to not get |
| they can invite to come along. | | | | too personal in the gift selection. This is a |
| Houseplants are a classic idea. If you want to go | | | | coworker, not a close personal friend. You |
| a bit different, take a look at bonsai rather than | | | | probably shouldn't humiliate them or embarrass |
| the typical houseplant. Bonsai trees can come in | | | | them. You don't want to give something and find |
| beautiful pots and have a great style to them. | | | | out that they have a dozen at home already. |
| Books can be a good choice. You can go with | | | | Keeping things on a relatively professional level will |
| something on professional development for their | | | | help to keep you from that kind of mistake. |
| career, but that may not get a very enthusiastic | | | | |