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Tangible Gifts
When my daughter was in high school, she worked as a receptionist in a hair salon. One day my husband stopped by a convenience store and bought her favorite large fountain drink on his way to his appointment there (without her asking). You’d have thought he bought her an expensive purse or something! She was thrilled. Her primary love/appreciation language is “Tangible Gifts”. To many who have this primary appreciation language, it’s not about the amount you spend (although my daughter would enjoy an expensive purse!), but the thoughtfulness you put into the gift.
How do you find out what your staff likes?
At the beginning of every school year, my staff would fill out an interest inventory. I never figured out how to differentiate gifts according to their appreciation language at major holiday times; however, for various other occasions, this inventory was very helpful. For example, I put together welcome gift bags for all my new hires following this inventory. (My administrative assistant was wonderful about getting them to fill out this form very early on!) One item that always made it into the bag was a children’s book. I visited the bookstore and took time selecting a book that would be meaningful to each one of them. I then wrote a note on the inside and signed it. A real expression of appreciation needs to be unique to that person. Unique gifts “speak the language” to those whose appreciation language is tangible gifts and makes them feel valued.
I’m attaching this interest inventory you are free to use…or modify for your campus!
(Click the inventory to download a copy)
As elementary school principals, most staff members know we can’t lavish our teachers with raises or bonuses. Depending on the size of your staff or the size of your budget, you may not be able to spend a lot on tangible gifts. Here are a few ideas that might fill appreciation needs that cost little to no money.
- Give them coupons (e.g. time off, wear jeans day, extra copies, etc.)
- Personalize anything (favorite drink or food, a picture of them or something they like, a nameplate, visor, etc.)
- Designate a parking spot just for them for a period of time
- Arrange to have their vehicle washed (I had a parent that cleaned the ice off staff’s windshields one day…he was an instant celebrity!)
- Cover their recess duty (or any other duty!)
- Make them King or Queen at lunchtime by placing an elaborate place setting in the teacher’s lounge. (The school lunch or lunch brought from home will taste better!)
- Write down what you observe about a person that you admire for a week…throughout the month? Place those thoughts into a memory jar and gift
- Take random pictures of your staff doing what they love. Create a collage of the pictures. (At Christmas time, I did this for each staff member and sent a thank you letter and the picture to a significant family member…so fun!)
- Bake something on their favorites list.
Need more ideas? Take a look in my store! Appreciating, celebrating, and motivating staff has always been a central passion for me. You will find innumerable ways to appreciate, personalize, and give appreciation gifts to your staff.
Do you know the primary appreciation language of your staff members?
The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman and Paul White tells us that we have a primary appreciation language.
Here are more:
Words of Affirmation & Quality Time
Acts of Service
Lead joyfully,
Gail Boulton
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