As has become our Teammate Tuesday holiday tradition, no heavy reading this week. Instead, we kindly offer you a lighthearted, good-teammate-themed Christmas list.
Here are ten Christmas traditions with good teammate undertones:
1. Giving gifts
Generosity is a trademark of good teammates. They give fully and freely of themselves. And whenever there seems to be nothing left to give, they always manage to find a way to give a little more.
2. Baking Cookies/Cookie Exchange
Good teammates know the key to connecting with their fellow team members is getting into their hearts. As the saying goes, the way to the heart is through the stomach. Baking and sharing cookies creates meaningful connections.
3. Elf on a Shelf
Elves are selfless servers. They epitomize what it means to be good teammates. The Elf on a Shelf experience sets everyone up for cherished memories.
4. Christmas Caroling
Blessed are those who can carry a tune. Talent is a gift to you, what you do with it is your gift to others. Using your talents to bring others happiness is crucial to being a good teammate.
5. Salvation Army Bell Ringers
Individuals who sacrifice their comfort for the benefit of others are good teammates. Having to endure holiday crowds and the repetitive sound of a ringing bell, while standing for hours at a time—often in the blistering winter cold—makes those manning the red Salvation Army kettles bona fide good teammates. (…and dropping donations in those red kettles is good teammate move!)
6. White Elephant/Dirty Santa
Whatever you call it, the game where participants take turns selecting and “stealing” impractical gifts delivers amusement. Good teammates are called to be good sports, and this game is an exercise in being a good sport and being happy for someone else’s good fortune.
7. Angel Trees
Good teammates provide care to those who are unable to care for themselves. Sharing with the less fortunate, without the expectation of getting anything in return for your charity, is standard operating procedure for good teammates.
8. Watching Christmas Movies
Shared experiences bring teams closer together. Yucking it up over the brilliance of Clark Griswald’s exterior illumination, Marv and Harry’s follies, or Ralphie shooting his eye out is guaranteed to bond your team, as are any of the feel-good Hallmark movies.
9. Sending Cards
Social media may have diminished the prominence of this tradition but receiving cards in the mail is still fun. The joy they bring to others—especially those who are not on social media—far outweighs their inconvenience. Good teammates are willing to sacrifice their convenience for the benefit of others.
10. Reading Stories
Whether it’s reading Dickens’ Christmas Carol or ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, gathering around the family patriarch or matriarch for a good Christmas story warms the soul and brings listeners closer together. By being good listeners, good teammates allow others to share.
From our team to yours, Merry Christmas! And, as always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
