Perspectives
Reprinted
with permission from author, Source:
EzineArticles.com
Give Your Teams the Gift of
Productivity
by Shirley Fine
Lee
Does finding the right
gift to say thank you to team members really have to be hard for you? If you are an individual or someone
representing an organization that is looking for a unique gift to give
employees, vendor teams, or customer groups, don’t overlook the easiest and
often best solution. What can
possibly be easy about shopping for a diverse group of people? What could be the best gift solution to
fit multiple needs? For an easy
gift idea, you should consider ordering multiple copies of a relevant business
book and then giving it with a note of thanks for past accomplishments or
services along with hopes for the future.
Giving books mean no dietary requirements or individual tastes for you to
have to consider. This makes the
shopping easier and the giving simpler for you, especially if you order on-line
and direct ship to the final destination.
Giving a book sounds easy
enough, but there are so many books out there to choose from. How do you choose which book is the best
option to give? Start by
considering whether you want to give individual or group gifts. If you want to give a gift that the
whole team can use, consider a book that has samples and forms the group can use
to make their jobs easier. For
example “R.A!R.A!
A Meeting Wizard’s Approach” (ISBN
1-4196-5367-9) has meeting planning and follow-up forms, as well as tips on
how to handle common problems that occur in meetings. If the team is fairly new and needs
team-building or has existed for awhile but needs a jump-start to get going
again, then consider a book of team-building activities. This way they can add a few minutes of
fun and learning into their regular meetings. “The Big Book of Team Building Games” by
Newstrom and Scannell (ISBN
0-07-046513-4) may be one to consider for this purpose. A timer to keep them on track during
team meetings would be a good complement to either book. If a gift basket is desirable, review
the books to get ideas for other items that may be included along with the timer
and book.
If individual gifts are
desired instead of something for the entire team, consider the previously
mentioned books for group leaders, team facilitators, or managers. For other individuals, consider books on
time management, goal setting, giving presentations, or project management. A variety of books may be a nice option
for individual team members. With a
variety of books, each book can rotate between members in order for everyone to
build several new skills.
How do you select the best
book for individual gift giving? A
simple choice for selecting books is to give a book that someone you respect
recommends or something by an author the recipient has mentioned as an
expert. If you have no personal
recommendations, another option you may use is getting choices by searching on
http://www.amazon.com/ for a particular topic to find classic
or new release books based on their customer star-ratings. If you are selecting a book based on
star ratings, be sure to read any on-line reviews to help verify the book will
meet the intended purpose. If the
purpose is to build self-confidence then the book should be instructional. If the purpose is self-actualization,
then the book may be inspirational, motivational, or
informative.
With the great selection
of business books available, finding the right thank you gift for team members
is now easier. Whether going to the
bookstore or ordering on-line, giving a book makes saying thank you so much
simpler. Remember when you are
looking for a different kind of gift to give employees, vendor teams, or
customer groups consider that giving a book to meet their needs is often the
easiest and best solution.
About the
Author: Shirley Fine Lee has considerable
training and expertise in leading effective meetings and projects, as well as
training others within the corporate world to be able to do the same. She has
been a member of Dallas ASTD since 2000, has worked on several committees, and
was a 2007 chapter board member. Find out more about her, her books, as
well as facilitation and learning options she provides on her website at http://www.shirleyfinelee.com/