The Art of Business: Giving Gifts Gracefully

Eric J. Adams

What better time than the holidays to say thanks to clients, colleagues, employees, and vendors with well-chosen gifts. But if you haven’t noticed, giving gifts to business associates has gotten a little tricky, what with numerous cultural, gender, religious, and business considerations.

Nonetheless, it’s worth the effort because it’s a nice thing to do and because gift giving is a great personal relations tool. Unfortunately, if it’s the wrong gift, the wrong person, or the wrong time, you may do more harm than good. Here are a few tips.

The List
To whom should you send gifts? Let’s start with the don’t list. Don’t send gifts to someone with whom you’re negotiating a contract. It may appear as a bribe or worse, a feeble attempt at a bribe. It’s also best not to send gifts to those you’ve recently met or to those with whom you have only a passing relationship. This may make them feel startled, uneasy, and guilty for not thinking of you. Finally, don’t send gifts to past clients who have ditched you, unless you have had an exceptionally good relationship with them.

Who’s left? Outside of the holiday season, gifts are usually given for specific reasons: to strengthen ties, reward people for a job well done, establish goodwill, or to apologize. The same criteria can be used during the holidays for a long list of potential receivers, including:

• long-term clients who pay their bills
• vendors and colleagues with whom you work regularly;
• the administrative assistant to the client who signs the checks;
• inside collaborators and “point people” with whom you work closely;
• your postal carrier for delivering checks;
• your accountant and other professionals who ensure you’re legal and who keep the IRS at bay.What to Buy
  Selecting a gift is always the toughest decision, even more so in the business world where every action seems to carry a subtle sub-message. The key words here are discretion, good taste, and planning. You don’t want it to be too expensive — that may appear extravagant. But that’s better than spending too little and, consequently, looking cheap. After all, wouldn’t you prefer to receive an inappropriate expensive gift than an inappropriate cheap one? Unless you know someone very well, stay away from gifts that can be construed as too personal, such as clothing and jewelry, as well as any gift with a religious connotation.

  Before giving a gift to someone in a large corporation, ask the company about its gift policy. Some corporations have “no-gift policies;” others have restrictions on the gift’s cost. If it’s a small company, ask around informally about the type of gift usually exchanged within the office and stay within these parameters of cost and taste.

  When giving gifts to staff or people in the same office, it’s best to give, if not the same gift, than a gift of equal perceived value, if for no other reason that to avoid sowing the seeds of envy among those you work with regularly. But there’s always a caveat, which is why business gift giving is so difficult. You may, for example, want — and should have every right — to give a nicer gift to a long-time colleague than to someone who’s new on the job.

  That said, if possible make each gift unique, so that when the office or email chatter finally gets around to you, people will concur that you’re a truly remarkable person in addition to a gifted creative professional.

  The best gift is a thoughtful one. Here are some ideas:

  • it relates to the type of project you worked on with the recipient;
• it punctuates a little running (tasteful!) joke;
• it fulfills a desire mentioned in passing;
• it is something you know they need for day-to-day work;
• it adds to a collection you know the receiver has an interest in.Keep in mind that gag gifts are very hard to pull off. Unless there’s a tie-in with a running joke, as mentioned above, forget the gag gift. You can never predict someone’s sense of humor and what’s funny to you might not be to someone else.

  The Right Gift
  Perhaps the best type of gift is best described as a reward gift — something recipients wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves, but would be happy to own. In this category you’ll find gifts like quality pens, fruit baskets, CDs, DVDs, a bottle of fine wine (if they drink), a gift certificate to the movies or theater, a nice desk clock, letter opener, paperweight, or cool gadget. Something of enduring worth is better, because it will serve as an enduring reminder of you. Think of all the things you want for yourself but never buy, and you’ll build a list fairly quickly.

  If you’re an artist or photographer a piece of your original art is a great idea, nothing too big or outrageous, nor anything that requires expensive framing on the part of the recipient.

  Finally, unless everyone is swapping gifts at a party situation, give gifts discreetly. Include a handwritten note with a personal sentiment, and, if possible, hand-deliver the package.

  And nothing for me, really. No, I insist.