Top ten gift ideas for your boss
by A.W. Berry
For those bosses that haven't earned a best boss trophy, other gift ideas for your boss may be just the thing for them. Since bosses are people too, there's a chance gifts to them will be appreciated if they're not condescending or don't have some malicious cryptic meaning behind them. If gifts for your boss are going to be humorous, it might be a good idea to check what your boss might find funny first.
1. Extra work
Gift ideas for your boss don't necessarily have a tangible cost tied to them. A boss may find extra work an even better gift than a snow shaker. Knowing your boss and what they care for or don't care for is a good way to assess if extra work is a gift they'd appreciate.
2. Good attitude
A good attitude is another intangible gift idea for your boss. Perhaps your boss would like to hear how much you appreciate what you're doing rather than receive a less practical or efficient gift. If you already have a good attitude, maybe a different gift or an even better attitude would be good.
3. Thank you card
Thank you cards are inexpensive and simple ways to give the gift of kind thought. A thank you card may be just the thing for your boss especially if it pertains to a recent event. Even holiday or birthday cards are thoughtful gifts on occasion.
4. Gift certificate
If you know your boss loves to eat or shop at a particular venue, there's a chance they might find a gift certificate to one of these places a really good gift. Gift certificates come in many denominations and can be put in cards as a bonus.
5. Bring them lunch
A different approach with gift giving may be to provide your boss with their favorite dessert or lunch. For example, bring them lunch and add something extra to it like some nice chopsticks or a boss mug to make it less like a gesture and more like a gift.
6. Desk toys
Desk toys like pendulums, a beverage warmer or personalized office equipment might be valued gift ideas for your boss. Knowing what your boss's interests are and if they spend a lot of time at a desk before picking out desk toys may help improve the quality and effectiveness of the gift.
7. Beverage related items
If your boss likes coffee, some well selected coffee might put an extra step into you bosses day. Other beverage items include a bottle of well aged Scotch, a tea basket or even a case of beer depending on what your boss likes to drink.
8. Newspaper or magazine subscription
When your boss is always talking about specific activities, place or things a subscription about them could be just the right gift idea for your boss. If magazines don't have the right information, a book might.
9. Vehicle equipment
With many people driving to and from somewhere there's a chance your boss does too. A gift idea for the boss that always seems to be driving somewhere could include tasteful auto accessories and related items. For example, a free car wash or blind spot mirror accessory.
10. Work related gifts
For bosses that love their job a great deal, a work related gift idea may be nice. For example, a nice calculator for an accountant, or a rare plant for a florist are gift ideas for bosses that cater the gift to their professional interests.
The range of gift ideas for bosses stretches only as far as the imagination can realize. Is your boss a collector, art connoisseur or enthusiast of some kind? Choosing gifts is not always a generic procedure and sometimes it involves actually knowing your boss a little, they may not like gifts at all. In light of this, before giving your boss a gift, thinking about it and choosing well can improve the appropriateness and quality of the gift.