You’ve no doubt heard a lot of tips through the years on how to select the right holiday business gift. We’ve written quite a bit about it ourselves.

Not as many people talk about how to determine who to include on your business gift list. Important customers obviously make your gift list, but here are some other reasons for presenting someone with a holiday gift:

To thank someone.
Thank-you gifts are very common in the business world. They are often given when someone has gone beyond their normal call of duty to help you with something and has received no compensation for doing so.

To congratulate someone.
When people have received promotions or raises, or have accomplished anything of major consequence, it is cause for celebration. As such, it is a perfect time to present someone with a gift.

To encourage someone.
People who are struggling with major personal goals often need encouragement. If you manage someone who is striving to improve themselves, a gift of encouragement may very well be one of the strongest motivators you can give them.

To cheer someone up.
Everyone has down days. By presenting an employee or coworker with a small gift, it lets them know that they are not alone.

To help someone.
Sometimes people struggle because they don't have the proper tools they need to do their job. For instance, they may need to improve their human relations skills or they may need to learn a new software program. Gifts that help someone do a better job end up helping both of you.

5 Leadership Lessons for Hard Times

A lot has been written and talked about in the past year about the mistakes that sparked the financial and economic crisis. Less attention has been given to what's been done well amid the turmoil. The McKinsey Quarterly, which is published by global consultant giant McKinsey & Company, interviewed the leaders at 14 major companies, asking them to reflect on what they felt they had learned. Read what these leaders learned...

Get LinkedIn with Other Sales Management Pros

SalesForceXP is now accessible as a public LinkedIn forum. Created by Publisher Mike Murrell, this community-based online extension of the SalesForceXP brand is focused on meeting the information and networking needs of the supplier-side of our industry. Individuals whose companies supply products and services geared toward training, incentives, recognition and off-site meetings are encouraged to sign up and join in the conversations.