A Simple Seasonal Recipe For Business Traditions That Address Need, Deepen Connections, And Leverage Your Role
Greetings *|FNAME|*,
For precisely three years, because of my illnesses, Paul and I have not been able to put up the tree or celebrate the holidays in our home in a meaningful way. But this year, we have joyfully returned to these traditions. Like decorating the tree, wrapping garland and white lights around the banister, and donning the dining room table with shiny brass candlesticks and a wintery table runner.
Our family will come together to celebrate three days early, so that the kids can be at their own homes for Christmas Day. In addition to hosting these beloveds at our home, I will revel in something else that brings me great joy – I get to cook and bake for them! I can't wait to make elaborate and yummy meals for them, then give out dessert bar gifts from my favorite chef.
Interestingly, I seem to get spring fever early. After the Christmas decorating was done at the beginning of the month, I started reorganizing the pantry, cleaning out the refrigerator, and decluttering the corners of the house. That's all done now, so I can just enjoy our guests this weekend. And I think that in many ways, decluttering really is a key component to creating therapeutic simplicity, which helps heal both personal and business ills. Not to mention, reducing many types of anxiety, as well as reducing waste.
These days, our lives don't seem simple at all. For many, work can feel like a never-ending set of tasks, clamoring for your attention, which eventually leads to productivity anxiety. Business owners, entrepreneurs, and consultants often face similar challenges as their employees, but it doesn't need to be that way. Consider these ways to provide simple but effective acts of kindness that touch the heart in 2025, instead of extravagant or complicated acts to show appreciation that does more than just check the box.
Tangible Gifts that Address Need
When my kids were young, we had barely two pennies to rub together. It was a really tough life but taught me a lot of resilience. Christmas was meager, full of economical canned tuna casseroles. One day over the holidays one year, I answered the doorbell. Standing before me was someone from church, who handed me a huge turkey and all the fixings for a grand meal. I've heard about this happening more these days, but it had never happened to us up to that point. This was a time before gift cards. And I cannot tell you how grateful I was for that kindness, having the tangible parts of a special meal brought to my doorstep. It brought up more tears of thanks than any $100 gift card because they focused on a simple act of kindness. You know what each staff member in your organization is paid, so think about what you can do to address workforce needs, beyond raises or financial bonuses in 2025. Remember that gift cards check a box, but gift giving tailored to the unique needs of each employee shouts kindness.
Social Gifts that Facilitate Connection
Working as an office manager for Dr. Connie Berquist at ESDI years ago inspired me to eventually go back to school, because my colleagues had acquired the degree and skill set that I wanted. They were professional problem solvers. And ESDI was home to many interesting hobbies. One time, to give Connie thanks for all that she had done for us that year, we all worked together to create a quilt with the ESDI logo in the middle. A true labor of love that she treasured. Connie also loved gourmet food. And she believed it was an effective medium for constructive teambuilding in ways that other activities just weren't. Several times a year (including the end of the year), we closed the office early to make a themed meal together, then enjoy it. Connie even bought lovely corporate china to complete the tableau of collaboration. If you have a kitchen in your business, or if you are willing to open up your home, think about how much more you can connect with your key staff while making food together, rather than simply having a catered meeting. Or maybe it's not a food tradition. Maybe you all are making crafts together, having a group painting experience, volunteering as a group to build a home with Habitat for Humanity, or something else. The point is to make something simple together, in a fun, social, and interactive setting, that has nothing to do with the daily business.
Tailored Gifts with A Personal Touch
Towards the end of the calendar year, I historically either purchased or created gifts for Change by Design's key clients and core team members. Before my illnesses, I hand-picked gifts for each person in October, which was so much fun. And although the size of the gifts was always aligned with annual business performance, this approach was also a huge endeavor because of the time involved. Time certainly has a value. I also liked to include some simple, hand-made treats from the heart such as personally-baked dessert bars (like coconut macaroons). I wrapped several together in cellophane with a hand-made bow and wrote a note of gratitude for each person. Fairly cost-effective but definitely time-consuming. The intent was to communicate my gratitude as a labor of love during my personal time. And these simple, personalized approaches are appreciated. Not long ago, one of my Change by Design colleagues remarked how working with us is so wonderful because we care and treat her with respect. So regardless of whether a gift is large or small, there is real value recognized when you are directly involved in the gift-giving. Not everyone, but many people appreciate when a leader takes time outside of the workday to think about and focus on an expression of thanks for an employee's contributions to business success. At a minimum, consider hand-writing a note to each person in your organization who has really moved the needle in a positive direction.
This is all just food for thought – no pun intended. My business and self-care coach, Elizabeth Barbour, has helped me champion simple kindness in my life. She wrote a great book on simple ways to celebrate or acknowledge important times in our lives, which I read and also recommend as a stocking stuffer or even a winter vacation reader. It has additional celebration rituals and ideas that are useful at work and at home.
Simply yours,
Sue
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