Decide if it should be a gift for the whole team or something for each member of the team. If the gift will be part of a planned recognition program or as a way to remember a holiday season, determine whether the gift should have practical, unique, or fun features, or a combination of these. And of course, consider what the team gift should say in addition to appreciation and whether it should be a single gift, prize, token, or if it should be a gift basket containing multiple items.
1. When considering practical gifts for the team, think about what work-related items, food, or personal items might be appropriate. If you are considering a gift basket, a coffee mug makes it possible to make individual miniature gift baskets for each team member by placing several small items in the mug, then wrapping it in cellophane and tying a bow along with a thank you or celebration note. .
If it is to be a gift basket for the team, then it should be larger and contain office supplies, food, or work items for the entire team, where various items are placed in a bucket, tote bag, or plastic container that The equipment can use to transport the materials. Then wrap the container and items in cellophane, add a ribbon to keep it closed along with a purchased and signed card. To make a more specialized gift basket, consider building it around a theme by including a business book that helps members with their team or project roles and including materials that are appropriate to the theme of the book. Sample book topics include time management, goal setting, process mapping, meeting management, giving presentations, project management, and team building.
2. For a more exclusive team gift, consider office supplies that members cannot normally get out of their office supply cabinet. It may be worth the time someone spends walking into the local office supply store to find something unique and within a set budget for the equipment. The uniqueness of the gift will show the team that an effort was made to find something that only those especially recognized for their team’s contribution would obtain within the organization. If a unique item cannot be found, then a standard stationery item that can be named after the team can be used to make it more unique.
If this is a thank you gift at the end of a long project, put in it the name of the project team and the project schedule, which would be the project start date to the desired end date if it hasn’t already happened. If these ideas take too much effort, the old standby of a golf jersey or jersey with the team’s name and logo will also work as a unique gift idea. These jerseys can be both practical and fun depending on how they are presented to team members. If a shirt alone doesn’t seem like enough, make it a one-of-a-kind gift basket by wrapping it in a prize or other office gift and tying it in a bundle so that the shirt is an added bonus to the gift rather than the main thing. .
3. A gift that represents fun lets the team know that it is okay to take a break from what can be too much work or stress at times. Taking a break can increase the productivity of the team in the future because a few minutes of relaxation can often revitalize everyone. Fun can be brought into that break time as a way to increase both group and individual creativity and serve as a motivator to achieve a better job on any project at hand. Fun items to consider include playing cards to use in the break room, team toys or stress squeezers to use during long meetings to encourage creativity, or a game book or team building activities to start the meeting. .
Another option is to create fun outside the workplace to encourage interaction and building deeper relationships among team members. This outdoor activity could be something like passes to a game that the whole team could enjoy, tickets to a local concert, or a group gift card for dinner at a local restaurant. Although individual gifts can be the easiest way to create fun, with a little thought you can make a great gift basket for the entire team that includes multiple items for both work and non-work activities.
When planning the gift, consider whether it will be: a single item or a gift basket containing multiple items. Should it be for the whole team or given to individual members? Should the gift be practical, unique, fun, or a combination of these? If it is to be a gift basket, be sure to consider something unusual or practical for the equipment reuse for the part of the basket. Always remember to give a vocal thank you to teams of employees, vendors, or customers, and then consider going one step further during an appreciation or vacation program with a gift or gift basket and also a written thank you.