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Purchasing a gift for your employer can bring you closer together

Starting a new job can be incredibly daunting—especially if you’re thrown into a completely new environment, with foreign procedures and a unique company personality. However, work-related nerves can often be eased if you get along well with your fellow employees and boss/manager.

A Harvard Business Review survey revealed that approximately 58% of workers trust their bosses less than complete strangers. This is an alarming figure, and highlights just how special it can be when you do share a friendship and mutual respect with your boss—friendship that often leads employees to show their appreciation of the support given, and acknowledge the bond through a gift.

A survey of 1000 workers indicated that approximately 64% of employees enjoy giving their supervisor a present on special occasions. However, finding the perfect gift for your male boss can sometimes prove difficult if your creative juices aren’t on point. Attempting to tailor the gift to their personal interests outside of work may also seem impossible if your communications are solely work-related. There are also several unspoken conditions one must consider before doing so.

There are some things that people should take into consideration when getting a gift for their employer, including:

• Being discreet when giving your gift at work, depending on what it is
• Avoiding giving money, as this can come across as redundant or superficial
• Avoiding cliché and generic gifts
• Assessing how much is appropriate to spend on a gift
• Ensuring that the gift is appropriate, depending on the nature of the relationship and the particular workplace

There are a handful of unique and thoughtful gifts that many people believe male managers would appreciate, more generally. Some of these lean more towards the practical, corporate spectrum of items, and there are others which fall more into the creative, thoughtful, and humorous categories. It’s important to gauge accurately what kind of relationship you and your employer share, and what kind of person he is. This will help to guide you in choosing a gift that will stand out—one that he can treasure and use for a long time.

1. Book of the month subscription

If your boss is a known bookworm, with a variety of novels stacked up on his desk reminding him of the places where he wishes he could be, a book-related gift would be a very thoughtful idea. You may choose to purchase the novel that’s been on the top of his must-read list, or invest in a voucher from his favorite bookstore; the latter will allow him the freedom of choice—this is a safe bet, but if you go bold and it pays off, he might appreciate you more for it.

Another creative idea that would prolong the merriment would be a book-of-the-month subscription. Depending upon what adventures or historical events your manager enjoys diving into, you may choose a company that tailors book-boxes to specific themes. Another perk of book-of-the-month subscriptions is that they usually include other little gifts along with the books, such as bookmarks.

Getting your boss a book-related gift is also quite an easy thing to disguise, as the subject of favorite books and authors is quite easy to naturally bring up in conversation. This would allow you to find a perfectly suitable gift relatively easily, even if it does involve a little subterfuge.

2. Custom embossed stamps

It’s hard to determine what gifts guys really want. However, if you’ve noticed a variety of monogrammed items in your manager’s office, a custom embossed stamp may the missing piece to his personalized office supply puzzle. There are various stores online that offer customized stamps, including not only letters, but also symbols. Personalizing the stamp will also reveal the extra level of thought that you placed into the gift—especially if it’s something meaningful.

3. A mug

If you’ve caught your boss walking around the office with your own special mug that’s been clearly labelled at the bottom, purchasing him his own will not only please him, but also benefit you. Picking out a simple, run-of-the-mill mug may be tempting if you’re not certain about the style that he prefers. However, finding a mug that’s unique and even humorous can set the both of you apart from the crowd. If you really want to make a point of it, you can always get one that says ‘Stop stealing my mug!’. That said, it’s a bold move.

4. Work survival kit

It may seem like your boss has his work and personal life all sorted out, like a carefully manufactured sitcom. It is, however, important to remember that he too may have off-days where he wishes he had the following:

• A stress ball to squeeze
• A few cheeky treats to snack on
• A fresh pair of earplugs to drown out your incessant questioning about what he wants for his birthday
• Relaxing tea

Popping on your creative hat and combining everything you consider practical, fun, and stress-relieving into a survival kit may turn out to be the perfect gift; it’s easy to see this as simply a novelty, but bosses are people too, and he might appreciate more than you know.

5. Themed decanter

Many companies understandably frown upon drinking alcohol on the job. However, gifting your boss with a themed decanter may allow him the opportunity to relax after work in style. While choosing a simple and classic styled decanter might be tempting, it’s wise to consider the vast variety of themes available. Many of the options out there may display television show symbols, book quotes, and/or be shaped like a specific object; you may want to get to know exactly what your boss likes to do or what show he likes to watch in his spare time—this will make it easier to go for a theme that he’ll really appreciate.

Final thoughts

Picking out a present for someone is never an easy task, let alone a gift for your employer. However, if you take the time to understand his hobbies and/or work-life quirks, you may be able to come up with a unique, personalized, and thoughtful gift that he will truly enjoy.