Curiosity #7 What do gifts have to do with leadership?

🎤 Quotable quotes: “Taking care of others is how we take care of ourselves.” – Sam Obisanya

📰 Let's start with this week's leadership musings by Marnie Stockman & Nick Coniglio

The Leadership of Gift-Giving... And Why It Matters

Gift-giving as a leader isn’t just about handing over a present—it’s about sending a powerful message. Whether it’s recognizing a team member’s contributions, showing gratitude to a mentor, or surprising a friend with something meaningful, thoughtful gifts communicate care, understanding, and connection.

Why does this matter? According to a Harvard Business School study, generosity in leadership fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and inspires loyalty. In Ted Lasso’s world, this is as simple as baking biscuits for the boss or giving team members a book tailored to their personality. In your world, it’s about the thought behind the gesture—not the price tag.

🎄This week, we challenge you to think about your own gift-giving style. Are your gifts an extension of your leadership values? If not, how can you lead the holidays with thoughtfulness and intention?

Curious which Ted Lasso Holiday Shopper you are? Take the quiz here to find out!

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What Ted Lasso Teaches Us About Leadership Through Gift-Giving

In Ted Lasso, one of Ted’s best leadership moments is when he gives each player a book tailored to their personality. It’s not about the book itself—it’s the thoughtfulness, care, and understanding of each person that makes it so powerful. This act teaches us that great leaders focus on the individual, creating connections through intentional, meaningful gestures.

This holiday season, let’s take a page from Ted’s playbook and lead with care, empathy, and a touch of creativity.

🎄 Holiday Cheer Goal: Spread Gratitude

Write a thank-you note to someone who has impacted your life—a mentor, a teammate, or even a friend. Be specific about how they’ve helped or inspired you. A simple note can leave a lasting impact.

📦 Featured Gift Ideas

Here’s how to turn leadership lessons into thoughtful gifts:

1. Personalization Matters:
   • Gift Idea: A custom journal with their name or a meaningful quote.
   • Leadership Lesson: Thoughtful details show you’ve been paying attention.
2. Celebrate Their Efforts:
   • Gift Idea: A framed photo or keepsake of a shared success.
   • Leadership Lesson: Recognize their contributions to inspire future growth.
3. Invest in Their Growth:
   • Gift Idea: A book like Lead It Like Lasso, paired with a note about why it’s meaningful.
   • Leadership Lesson: Encourage their personal or professional development.
4. Small Gestures Count:
   • Gift Idea: A handwritten card and their favorite snack (A little pink box of biscuits ;) )
   • Leadership Lesson: The little things often mean the most.
5. Lead with Generosity:
   • Gift Idea: A donation to a cause they care about. We would like to shout out to our friends at Steps of Faith foundation as a great cause supported by so many of the Ted Lasso community.
   • Leadership Lesson: Empathy and generosity build trust and connection.

More leadership musings

🍪 Biscuits with the Boss: What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever received, and what made it so memorable?

Reflect on this, and then think about how you can recreate that same magic for someone else.

🏅Whistle. Whistle.: Gifts don’t need to be big or flashy, but they do need to be thoughtful.

Don’t give something generic just because you ‘should.’ That’s Rupert behavior. Put some heart into it or don’t bother.

📚Beard’s collection: Recommended books and articles

📖 Ruhlin, John. Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Retention. Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2016.

John Ruhlin explores the art of gift-giving as a strategic tool for building relationships. This book shows that thoughtful, personal gifts can create lasting impressions, build loyalty, and even drive business success. Perfect for leaders looking to elevate their approach to Ted level.

📖 Gostick, Adrian, and Chester Elton. Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results. Harper Business, 2020.

In this guide, Gostick and Elton show how incorporating gratitude into leadership practices can improve team morale and productivity. Through actionable tips and real-life examples, this book highlights how gratitude, much like thoughtful gift-giving, builds stronger, more successful relationships. "Believe"

📖 Grant, Adam. Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success. Penguin Books, 2014.

Adam Grant offers a compelling case for how generosity leads to greater success. Through stories and research, this book illustrates how giving—whether through mentorship, support, or even thoughtful gifts—fosters deeper connections and better outcomes for leaders and their teams. (Maybe 

🌎 This week in Here - There - Every F’ing where 

We are still insanely jazzed about our time at Thundergong! If you love the Ted Lasso community, we would love to meet you... in LONDON! Check this trip out (planned by our friends at Cirillo Travel Group) 

📦 Nate’s suggestion box: We love hearing your ideas! Got a thought about leadership or holiday gift-giving? Reply to this email and let us know. Your suggestion might just make it into a future newsletter.

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Forward this email to a friend who loves Ted Lasso, leadership, or both! (That would be a gift to us :) ) Let’s grow our Diamond Dogs community and keep spreading the Lasso Way.