Boss’s Day is October 16. That’s two weeks away. Do you have a plan?
Of course not. Nobody does.
Gifting your boss is a delicate business. Spend too much and you look like you’re campaigning for a promotion. Skip it and the guilt shows up by lunch. Here is a better way.
Go in together.
Individual gifts up the org chart get awkward fast. A group gift takes the pressure off and lets the budget stretch a little further. Everyone chips in. Nobody sweats.
Be observant, not impressive.
The best boss gift isn’t extravagant. It’s specific. Does your boss run on iced coffee? Grab a brewing pitcher and coffee at Iowa Coffee Roasters/Beans, Teas & Other Things. Collect hot sauce? Run to Marion’s The Grillworks and grab one of their 100s of options. Start there. A gift that says “I’ve been paying attention” beats one that says “I Googled ‘gifts for bosses.'”
Write the note.
Two sentences. Tell them one thing they did that helped you. “Thank you for backing me on the client call” lands far harder than “Thanks for everything.” Managers rarely hear specifics. They will keep that card. Probably in a drawer. But they will keep it.
Know the landmines.
A few things belong on the “absolutely not” list:
- Perfume, cologne, or lotion. Too personal.
- Alcohol, unless you know for certain.
- Cash. It reads like a down payment on a raise.
- Anything with their name misspelled. Yes, I have seen it.
What actually works
- Locally roasted coffee with a handwritten note
- A snack box of regional favorites
- A desk plant that survives neglect
- A group-funded lunch at a spot they already love
Notice what’s missing? The mug. The mug is a placeholder. It says “I remembered today was a thing” and nothing else.
A word for the bosses.
If you’re the one being gifted, October 16 is also your cue. Go first. Thank your team before anyone thanks you. Nothing makes a great leader look better than a leader who doesn’t wait to be asked.
Want this handled? I CAN HELP!
Boss’s Day, team thank-yous, the whole October 16 situation: let’s take it off your plate. Reach out at getfavorable.com and I’ll build something that doesn’t scream “last-minute panic.”
Until Next Time,
