Is sending your boss a holiday card a good idea? Will an e-card do? Is a holiday greeting card to business colleagues even necessary? See AllisonTaylor’s “5 Important Considerations for Holiday Greetings in the Work Environment.”
If you’ve given the idea of sending your boss a holiday card a thorough review and decide to send, here are eight important guidelines to ensure your card is well-received. While sending out holiday cards is very likely a good idea, even this generous gesture can backfire if the proper protocols aren’t observed. Here are some additional guidelines to ensure your card is well received:
- Choose a high-quality holiday card that allows no possibility of offending its recipient. Remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas; be mindful of religious and cultural nuances, particularly with your international recipients.
- Choose a design that is appropriate for your business associates.
- Include one of your business cards inside the greeting card. This small insertion ensures that your recipients have your most current contact information and will reinforce your name with the card’s recipient.
- Be sure that your inscriptions on the outside of the card are both legible and attractive. Consider using a form of calligraphy to make your recipient’s name and address visibly pleasing. Also, be sure to include your return address on the mailing envelope.
- Sign each card personally. It only takes a moment to sign your name and write a short greeting, and your business associates will notice and appreciate this more personal gesture.
- Check the spelling of your contacts and their corporate name. Any good points you’ll score with a holiday card will be lost if you misspell your contact’s name or corporate information.
- Keep your contact list accurate and up-to-date. Make sure you’re not sending a card to someone who has left the department or the company.
- Don’t be late. In life and in business, timing is everything. Remember that many companies close during the holidays and people take vacation to be with family, so send your cards early. Also note the possibility that a recipient of your card may want (out of consideration or guilt) to respond with a card back to you prior to the holidays. Aim to have all your corporate holiday cards in the mail no later than December 15 if you’re sending them within the U.S., or earlier if you’re sending them via international mail.
Cultivate good relationships this holiday season – and help ensure your professional success tomorrow.