Navigating the Holidays

The holiday season is fast upon us, and along with the stress of endless events and shopping galore comes a whole set of social conventions to navigate in your business. How do you handle the holidays?

• Gifts for clients and coworkers — Should you chip in, get something individual, avoid it entirely? How much to spend, and when to do it?
• Holiday-specific or generic cards, or no cards at all – What holidays get cards and what don’t? What should they say? When should you send them? Does receiving a card require a thank-you note?
• Office and personal events — What to attend, how to dress, how to behave, how to decorate?
• Special discounts — Thanksgiving sale? Christmas sale? Hanukkah sale? Generic winter sale?
• Phone and personal salutations – “Happy holidays”? “Season’s greetings”? “Merry Christmas”? “Happy New Year”?

I’m of two minds on this topic. I don’t personally celebrate holidays for religious reasons, so I don’t do anything holiday related for my business. But I wonder if the rest of the world thinks of me as a Scrooge. They say “Merry Christmas,” and I say, “Thanks.” They send a card, and I send nothing. They decorate like crazy, I stick with my usual look.

In your business, how do you balance including everyone with being reasonable as to what you can accomplish? Does your office have a Christmas party or a winter gala? Is there a big Thanksgiving lunch the week before the holiday? Does the receptionist’s desk hold a Christmas tree and a menorah side by side?

Do you think it’s important to do something to acknowledge the holidays, or would we be better off with business as usual?

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King