6 Fun Holiday Gifts for L&D Professionals

Learning and development (L&D) professionals share their special gifts with organizations every day. They champion a culture of learning, they upskill and reskill talent, they provide coaching and mentorship, they create career pathways, and they help develop leaders. And while their hard work and daily contributions don’t come wrapped in pretty bows and sparkly paper, L&D pros keep giving to their organizations all year long. 

What better way then to thank them for planning and overseeing the training and growth of your employees than to give them a meaningful gift that says thanks for all you do? 

If you’re still not sure what you’ll bestow upon your favorite L&D rock star, here’s a fast and festive gift list to help you find the perfect expression of gratitude.

1. Ice breaker ball for kicking around conversation starters

Successfully breaking the ice is often the key to kicking off a professional training session. 

Getting people to talk can help them connect better, not only with each other but with the course or training material they’re trying to master. Giving L&D professionals this fun ball of conversation will help them, yes, get the ball rolling. Conveniently covered with lots of great conversation starters, this lightweight, easily transportable gift gets the job done. 

After all, L&D isn’t all business. It can be fun too!

2. Inspirational mug to fuel learning sprints

Gifted L&D pros knock it out of the park when it comes to planning, organizing, and implementing all things organizational learning. And that means they sometimes knock a lot of coffee back to power through back-to-back training sprints. 

Giving them this nifty mug — complete with a powerful quote by legendary South African leader Nelson Mandela — can help show that you see, understand, and appreciate their organizational improvement efforts. It also eloquently speaks to the fact that a positive attitude can make the difference between a good day fostering a culture of learning and, well, one they can learn from.

3. A best-selling book for mastering the magic of workplace rituals

Navigating organizational complexities involves seamlessly connecting different types of people and personalities. It’s a skill L&D pros must excel at. This insightful book, Rituals Roadmap: The Human Way to Transform Everyday Routines into Workplace Magic, will help them do it even better. 

Chock-full of success stories from companies like Starbucks, Microsoft, and (shout-out!) LinkedIn, this gift equips L&D specialists with proven strategies for establishing winning rituals during meetings, interviews, and beyond. Of course, we’d recommend they start every learning session by kicking around the ol’ ice breaker ball (see above).

4. Talk about a mic drop

L&D pros take center stage every day — they’re in the spotlight, projecting their voices during essential employee trainings and other educational company events.

Now, instead of a plain, old standard microphone, they can get their messaging across with the glitzy-glam microphone they deserve (and probably secretly have always wanted). Small but mighty, this mini mic can help them lighten the mood and teach their hearts out on stage — or wherever they drop knowledge. P.S.: A splash of impromptu office karaoke never hurt anyone either.

5. Plant terrarium to seed career growth

Why not liven up your fav L&D professional’s desktop with a lush touch of nature? 

This lovely live plant terrarium is sure to grow on them. Plus, research shows bringing the outside in with a live plant can even boost creativity. What’s not to love about that? Feeding and watering not included.

6. Activities in a box for fun team building

Conducting team-building exercises doesn’t have to be all humdrum whiteboards and name tags. 

And it won’t be when you gift your L&D pro a cool Confetti activity kit. From Thai cooking to charcuterie board crafting to rainbow bagel making and beyond, these interactive kits can transform team-building activities and marathon meetings into unforgettable memories. Bonus: Virtual kits are also available for all those telecommuting colleagues out there.

There you have it — six specially selected smart gifts for the talented L&D pro who helps your company go and grow. We professionally developed it for you so you can shower them with the best the season has to offer — and say “thank you” for the crucial role they play in the success of your business. Happiest of holidays to you and yours, and best of luck shopping! You got this.  

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