Right around now many people are rushing around for last-minute Christmas shopping and preparations. A few smugly self-satisfied folks are sitting back – proud that they got all of their shopping done by August. Either way – many people are thinking about gifts.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is watching my family open presents. I enjoy sharing their anticipation and joy. One of the sad aspects of this, to me, is when people (often my children) rush through opening all of their gifts.

It’s as if the joy of one gift is lost through the immediate pursuit of the next. By the time the last gift is open, the earlier ones may be forgotten entirely. Many of the gifts are at great risk of being lost in all the paper, boxes, and commotion.

But…is it just kids that do this? And does this just happen at Christmas?

Here are three gift-related questions to think about during your daily commute or while waiting for coffee:

What gifts have I already received this year – that I haven’t yet fully received?

Every year brings challenges. But it also brings opportunities, joys, relationships, and experiences.

It’s easy to become so busy keeping up, dealing with challenges, or chasing the next thing that we don’t really appreciate what we have received.

What have you received over the course of this year – that you moved past too quickly? Are there one or two (or as many as you like) that you can go back, find and appreciate?

What gifts were offered – that I haven’t recognized or accepted?

I don’t really like shopping. So, I tend to forget about gift certificates. As a result, I have a little stack of those that have built up.

Sometimes we are offered gifts but we have to do something to really receive them. I’ve noticed that many leaders can do the same. They neglect to act on the “gift certificates” of life.

With clients I’ve watched this manifest in different ways: Some leaders have fully “paid their dues” (to whom, I’m not sure). But they are uncomfortable with structuring more freedom into their schedules or taking vacations.

I’ve watched leaders:

• Not bill for services delivered.
• Avoid clear opportunities to bring their organizations to the next level.
• Not pursue interested applicants who could bring game-changing expertise.
• Not follow up on referrals to experts who had the exact answers or experience they needed.
• Not take advantage of discretionary time or flexibility.

And so on. In most cases, there was an underlying sense of “I don’t deserve this” or “I’ll wreck it somehow.”

What gifts should I offer – this year or in the year to come?

I don’t mean gifts you can wrap. I mean – Do your employees (or family) need to hear you be more encouraging? Do they need your time and attention? Is there a grudge or resentment that could be forgiven?

Do you need to address avoided problems or people in the organization? Perhaps build some structure (or get help to build the structure) that would make everyone’s lives easier?

Are there any gifts, like this, that you can offer this year? Are there any that you want to be sure to offer this coming year?

Merry Christmas!

I do wish you a very Merry Christmas. And I hope that you are open to receiving and giving all the best things this year.

Take good care,

Christian

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