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