A Few Tips to Play Secret Santa Like a Pro
If you're a “hater” of anything that's “supposed” to be fun at work because it feels forced and awkward, I'm pretty sure Secret Santa tops your list of unnecessary and exhausting activities. I'll agree that there are certain workplace practices and colleague behaviors that might deserve to be “avoided,” but Secret Santa is definitely not one of them in my book. On the contrary! Okay, sure, if you’re someone who can’t stand holiday happenings, it’s probably obvious that I’m that “annoying” person who loves all the pre-New Year hype and the culmination of joy on New Year’s Eve. For me, Secret Santa perfectly fits into the vibe of happy moments, and I honestly don’t see any reason to cut it from the menu of team-building activities.
With that said, here are a few Secret Santa tips for making the game as successful as possible:
It’s totally fine not to participate. If you don’t want to join in, that’s perfectly okay. Also, if you can’t participate because you’re not in a position to spend money, that’s completely valid too. That said, I like to believe that workplaces organizing Secret Santa take care to set a budget that’s reasonable for everyone involved.
Choose a gift for the person you’ve drawn, not just anyone. Try not to go for something overly generic. This can be tricky in large companies where you might draw someone you don’t know, but if you do know the person—or at least recognize them—you probably have some idea of what kind of gift might make them happy or suit their taste.
Pick a gift you’d like to receive—tailored to their taste. Think of something you’d appreciate, but customize it to match the preferences of the person you’re shopping for.
Stick to the agreed-upon budget. Even if you’ve drawn your favorite colleague and want to spoil them, it’s important to respect the budget. The essence of Secret Santa is not to show off, even with the best of intentions. It’s all about having fun. It wouldn’t be fair if someone received a lavish gift while others got something simple. If you want to give your colleague an expensive present, save it for another occasion.
Gifts don’t have to be physical objects. Depending on the agreed-upon budget, you could give an experience instead: a dessert at a café, a movie or theater ticket, and so on.
Avoid overly humorous gifts. While a funny gift might seem like a good idea, this isn’t the occasion for it. Even if you know the recipient well, save such gifts for another time. Remember, gifts are typically opened in front of everyone, and an overly jokey gift could make the recipient feel uncomfortable.
I hope you have a great time at your Secret Santa celebrations and head home richer for the experience—whether it’s the joy of bonding with colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere or a charming little gift that adds a touch of holiday magic to your day.
An essential part of every December is organizing a New Year's celebration. If you need any help with that, feel free to reach out to us!
Text: Jasna Džudželija, Senior PR Account Manager & Project Manager, smartpoint adria