16 Big Impact Ways to Give a Gift that Costs You Nothing
If you've been to the grocery store this time of year you know that it is either the holiday season or Armageddon. You're buying things you don't usually use. (When is the last time you bought fresh sage?) You're doing mini makeovers of your home decor. (That old rug never looked so bad.) And you're hoping the discussion at dinner doesn't turn to politics.
I invite you right now to shift your perspective from holiday expectations to what the holiday season is truly about. Love. Yes, Love. Not present giving. Just love. Even at work. It may not be appropriate for you to give a substantively large gift to someone at work. Your time is more valuable than anything you can buy. How will you demonstrate the tenets of love to everyone in your work and personal life? How will you extend compassion, patience, consideration, listening, understanding?
16 Big Impact Ways to Give a Gift that Costs You Nothing
- Offer to help a colleague with a project on which they have been struggling.
- Attend a presentation of a colleague for the sole purpose of giving them constructive feedback.
- Research a few key articles or studies that will help a colleague. Send them the link and share your insight.
- Invite a colleague to an event that he/she would not otherwise be able to attend without you.
- Give a colleague something that you made especially for them – cookies, a framed photo, a handcraft.
- Gift a colleague a book from your personal library that helped you in your career.
- Write a gratitude letter to a mentor, family member, or someone important whom you have not properly thanked.
- Start a Gratitude Journal with a list of things for which you are thankful. Share it with people who you write about.
- Keep a Gratitude Box where you collect cards, letters and other keepsakes you collect throughout the year from people you appreciate. Share it with them at the holiday.
- Create a Family Journal that is brought out at every Christmas dinner whereby each family member writes what they are thankful for or their favorite Christmas memory or tradition.
- Put every family member’s name in a hat at the Christmas table. Each person pulls a name and gives a specific reason why they are thankful for that person.
- Collect and give something special for a homeless shelter, battered women’s shelter, convalescent home or other charity and include a special note as to why you care about them.
- Gather toys, clothes, and home furnishings to take to the Goodwill, Salvation Army, or thrift store.
- Drop a handwritten note of thanks to your coworkers.
- Take the time to chat with a veteran about his or her experience.
- Cook a meal or deliver baked goods to your local fire department or police department.
If you want more career tips here’s a link to Mary Lee’s FREE Career and Life Planning Tool: https://www.maryleegannon.com/Your-Yearly-Career-and-Life-Planning-Tool
If you are struggling with uncertainty and feel exhausted and ineffective watch my FREE Training on Three Ways to Move to the Next Level In Your Career Right Now to 1) identify the right role for you, 2) position your transferable skills and 3) create a career portfolio that sells you before you even get an interview. If you don't know where you will be at the end of the year, you are already there.
Your coach,
Mary Lee
P.S. Feel free to forward this email to someone who could benefit from it. We are all walking down the same road in life looking for a hand to hold. Sometimes we must be the hand that reaches out. www.MaryLeeGannon.com
Mary Lee Gannon, ACC, CAE is an executive coach and 19-year corporate CEO who helps leaders have more effective careers, happier lives and better relationships. Request a free consultation call.
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