This week, we’re privileged to have Jennifer V. Miller return to the Recognition at Work blog to reflect on the gift of giving!  Please make Jennifer feel welcome with your kind comments!

The act of giving someone recognition is a gift that’s in season all year long. And, it’s the gift that truly keeps on giving. Consider this: according to researchers from University of California, San Diego and Harvard, positive behaviors like giving someone praise is a sort of social “contagion”—it’s scientifically proven that one person’s act of kindness creates a cascading effect, prompting others to “pay it forward” and also do good. 

But not all praise is created equal. The value of being recognized is truly in the eye of the beholder, as I wrote in the post Recognition. It’s All Good. Right? Wrong. Some people adore public recognition while others abhor it.  I outlined four types of recognition preferences that people have. Here they are again, along with specific suggestions that will please each type.

1. No-Frills – Cheers Kit note. The small space requires a short and concise note, so you better get to the point quickly!

2. Social – Throw a part in their honor for a birthday, anniversary, or major accomplishment.

3. Low-Key – Show your sincerity by recognizing immediately after the behavior takes place with a handwritten card, a Shout Out in your peer recognition program, or simply stopping by to deliver your kudos in person.

4. Specific – Make sure every recognition gift or award includes a handwritten card that goes into detail about the accomplishment or behavior that’s being recognized. Don’t let an email suffice! A tangible, personal note will be saved and cherished – and make your recognition more effective.

How to know which type of recognition your colleagues prefer? It’s simple: ask them! They may be surprised by your inquiry, but it’s just another way to show that you care about them as an individual, not as a cog in the corporate system.

So go on, now. Take a walk around your office and pay attention to your co-workers. What type of recognition would they best enjoy? And remember, recognition is one present that’s great for re-gifting, time and time again.

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Jennifer V. Miller founded SkillSource in 1995, with a mission to help leaders and their organizations “master the people equation”. She shares her thoughts on creating professionalism in the digital age on her blog, The People Equation

 

We’re feeling very cheerful at Baudville. Our Year End party is one week from today, and we're all excited! It’s a time when we celebrate the year as a team and have a lot of fun! Plus, we’re listening to Christmas music in the office, so we’re definitely in the holiday spirit.

We want to spread our cheer with all of you by giving away a free gift! Use code JOLLY at checkout and receive one of our Snowman Cheer to Our Year Note Cube and Pen Gift Set for FREE when any order of just $50.

Continue to spread the cheer by giving your Note Cube and Pen Gift Set away to a deserving recipient:
• Your boss
• Your administrative assistant
• The individual who delivers your mail or newspaper
• Your local librarian who always has a great book recommendation
• Your stylist who keeps you looking great
• An outstanding volunteer
• Your kid’s teacher
• A friendly cashier at your local grocery store

Or keep it for yourself and get some cheer every time you look at it on your desk!

How are you going to use your free Note Cube and Pen Gift Set? Tell me in the comments, and I'll give away a matching Snowman Travel Mug to one lucky person! 

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

It’s the season for shopping and gift giving. The more people you have on your list, the harder it seems to be to find the right gift for every person. I’ve collected a few gift giving guides that I hope will simplify your shopping this holiday season!

 

Business Week’s Executive Gift Guide
This guide will give you creative ideas for the executive in your but before you begin shopping, beware that the items are priced from $11.50 to $3.5 million.

Oprah’s Gift Finder
I found this jewel of a gift finder on Pinterest. If you’re addicting to the site like I am, start following Baudville’s pins for gift and event ideas that will impress your team. Oprah’s gift finder gives you lots of refinement options, so you’re almost guaranteed to find the right gift, for the right person, at the right price.

Picks for the Generations
I created my own gift guide for those of you with multiple generations on your team. In a blog post last week, I shared gift ideas for the Millennials, GenerationX, and Baby Boomers on your team. What gifts have you found to be perfect fits for these members of your team?

New York City Holiday Gift Guide
New York is one of the shopping capitals of the world, so we should pay attention to their holiday gift picks! This guide references local New York City spots for their gift picks, but you can find most of them online, too.

LA Holiday Gift Guide
If you’re on the opposite coast, this guide compiled by the Huffington Post has picks from the top stores.

Baudville Gift Finder
The Baudville Gift Finder will select the products that are perfect for your theme, occasion, and budget. Make a few selections from our drop down menu and let the Gift Finder do the rest!

Pinterest
Our new favorite website is Pinterest, and we’ve started several collections of products and ideas to help you recognize your team and give wonderful gifts. Check it out!

What's your secret for holiday gifts? Tell us your tips, tricks, and sources – we promise not to tell!

 

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

Team gift shopping is hard, especially around the holidays. You want to give the members of your team a token of your appreciation, but how do you choose a gift that’s meaningful for everyone without using all your time and resources searching for it?

We’ve put together gift suggestions for three generations currently in the workplace, Generation Y, also known as Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers, to help you in your quest for the ultimate team appreciation gift!

Gifts for Generation Y and Millennials
The younger part of the workforce has been characterized by their desire to have a purpose in their work and make a difference. A gift bookhas inspiring quotes that will motivate and inspire your young team members. I recommend the One Book and Five Book, that include guides and activities to set and accomplish personal goals.

This part of your team also is passionate about caring for the environment…and coffee drinks. They love coffee drinks. Give them a new coffee mug  for the holidays. They’ll be able to use their new mug instead of disposable cups, helping the environment, and it will keep their favorite beverage hotter, longer. Bonus!

Gifts for Generation X
Generation X values work-life balance above much else, so give them a gift that will make their juggling act easier. A tote bag is a practical gift your employees can use to carry their personal items to and from work, to a child’s sporting event, or after work activity. Add a holiday greeting card with a personal message inside and a coupon for extra time off around the holidays.

Practical gifts are also a favorite among Generation X. Select a gift set with a handy tool for the car for each Generation X member of your team. The On-the-Move Gift Set  comes with a flashlight and tire gauge, and the Pathfinder Gift Set  includes compass, flashlight, and utility knife. Personalize the front with the name of the recipient to make a lasting impression.

Gifts for Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers value work as one of their great achievements in life. Honor their time and dedication with a desktop gift that will always remind them of your appreciation. Clocks are a classic award, and you can personalize your clock with a recipient’s name and date. It will have a lasting impression on your recipient!.

For a lower cost option, present the Baby Boomers on your team with a lapel pin. Make a nice award presentation when you present the pins to express the value the pins represent.  Your team members will appreciate the symbolic award. 

Each member of your team is unique, and our gift suggestions may not be the perfect fit for your teammates. Take the time to find a gift that’s just right for them with our Gift Finder and use our gift giving tips  to make it memorable.


Do you have other gift suggestions for the generations? Share them here!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! I enjoyed the long weekend with friends, family, and Christmas music! That’s right, I’ve been grooving to Pandora’s R&B and Pop Holiday station for two solid days now. I can’t help it. I love the N*SYNC Christmas album. I could listen to Mariah Carey sing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” all day. On repeat. Listen to Straight No Chaser croon holiday favorites? Yes, please.

What goes great with Christmas music? Online shopping!


I’m sure you’re all aware that today is Cyber Monday, a great day to shop for holiday gifts online…and head bob to holiday music at your desk.

We have a great online sale today at Baudville.com for holiday gifts for your employees and teammates. Our More the Merrier Sale is online and today only, so act fast! The discounts are good on ANYTHING on the website, so you have lots of employee gift options.

Here are the sale details:
• Take $100 off your order of $500 or more with coupon code CYBER500.
• Take $40 off your order of $250 or more with coupon code CYBER250.
• Take $10 off your order of $100 or more with coupon code CYBER100.

Do you need some employee gift ideas before you start shopping? Read Lindsay’s Holiday Team Gift Ideas blog post for ideas or browse our new holiday catalog online to see what’s new this season.

What are you shopping for this Cyber Monday? Tell us here!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.