Santa’s Coming!!! We are officially in the gift-giving season. According to a Gallup poll, ninety-three percent (93%) of all Americans exchange gifts during this season. The custom of giving gifts is the most consistent ritual that we seem to have during this time of year, beating out other practices like putting up a Christmas tree (88%), going to holiday parties (74%), and taking time to reflect on any potential religious meaning (78%). 

Now here’s the not-so-secret reality about gifts, some gifts are just better than others. In the classic holiday movie, “A Christmas Story,” nine-year-old Ralphie Parker desperately wants a Red Ryder BB Gun. Christmas morning, Ralphie can’t wait to open his presents, including one from Aunt Clara. Her gift was no doubt selected with loving care and sent dozens of miles. What was this gift, picked lovingly, wrapped carefully, presented with such pleasure? Not a Red Ryder BB gun. Instead, it was a pink bunny suit covering Ralphie from head to toe, complete with floppy ears, paws, and feet. Ralphie mourns, “She thinks I’m a four-year-old girl!” What was Aunt Clara thinking? It was probably that Ralphie lived in a cold climate, and the pajamas would keep him warm and fun. Sorry, Aunt Clara, but no.

This scene can be analogous to the experience that our people sometimes have with us. We’re giving them things, or “gifts” that they don’t really want. As leaders, what could we offer to our teams that would connect? Here are a few things for you to consider.

Cultivate and Maintain a Culture of Support
Over and over again, we’ve heard employees talk about the importance of the relationships that they have at work. This is especially true when times get tough. The long and short of it is that people want to feel like they are part of a group where they are known and appreciated. There are many ways to create this experience, including the occasional free lunch, employee emergency funds, mentoring programs, and recognition events. If we want to give your team a gift that truly matters, cultivate a culture where people generally know that they matter. 

Invest in Employees
People love an organization that invests in their development. While many organizations think they are doing a decent job at this, the organizations that we’ve seen excel are those who help employees take ownership of their self-development and give them ample opportunities that invite learning and further their growth. There may be no greater gift than ensuring that your team has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish their current jobs while also investing in them to learn new skills to prepare them for future roles. One way to do this is to get in the habit of putting your employees into circumstances where they can get real experience, like managing projects and engaging in initiatives. Research indicates that learning from experience has the most significant impact and reward.

Make Time and Space for Fun
Okay, here’s the part that some people might question. In our experience, the most successful organizations are also the ones who are actively finding ways to add some fun into the mix. This fun may be through structured activities and events (e.g., parties, sports events, hiking, groups) or just creating an environment that appreciates playfulness (e.g., jokes, shared videos, comical stories, places for people to interact and engage with one another). For too many people, the antithesis of having fun is “going to work,” but that doesn’t have to be our reality. 

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Final Thought: It’s one thing to write about these concepts; it’s another thing to practice them. James, our Founder and CEO, has always called us to work hard, while encouraging us to take time to play, rest, and deeply embrace the friends and family that mean so much to us. So, we’re giving our team the gift of time. We’ll be picking up our weekly leadership content on January 4. Until then, keep aspiring to live and lead well! Happy Holidays!