I’ll be honest — I love gifts. 🎁
A perfectly wrapped box. A surprise package on the doorstep. Even the tiniest stocking stuffer makes me smile.
Because gifts? They’re my love language.
And listen, I’m not hard to please. Send me something shiny and I’m happy. The last time I said that out loud, my ex-husband handed me a roll of aluminum foil. 🙄 Not exactly what I had in mind, but technically… shiny.
But here’s what I’ve learned as a leader: the best gifts don’t come from a store.
The best gifts come from connection.
Renee, the Bridge Builder
Renee wasn’t the flashiest leader. She didn’t always have the boldest ideas or the loudest voice.
But she had something even more powerful: she was a bridge builder.
If you needed an introduction, Renee made it.
If you were struggling, she connected you with someone who could help.
If you accomplished something small, she made sure the right people noticed.
Renee didn’t collect people. She connected them.
And that was her leadership superpower.
Why Connection Is the Gift That Keeps Giving
We often think leadership is about having the right answers, the sharpest strategy, or the biggest vision.
But research tells a different story.
Harvard Business Review found that leaders who intentionally build strong networks of trust and collaboration drive higher engagement, stronger retention, and more innovation.
And Adam Grant puts it beautifully: “The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed.”
That’s the gift of connection. It doesn’t just make you a better leader. It lifts everyone around you.
A Lesson From Being the Boss
One of my favorite leadership books is Being the Boss by Linda Hill. She outlines three imperatives for leaders:
- Manage yourself
- Manage your team
- Manage your network
Most leaders get the first two. They work on self-awareness. They focus on building their teams.
But the third — managing your network — often gets neglected.
And yet, it’s this imperative that makes the difference between being a good manager and becoming a great leader.
Because leadership isn’t just about your direct reports. It’s about the intentional connections you build across the organization — the bridges you create that open doors for everyone.
A Holiday Reminder
During the holidays, we spend so much time thinking about what to buy, wrap, or give.
But sometimes the best gift looks like this:
- Introducing a colleague to a mentor who could change their career.
- Publicly recognizing someone in front of the team.
- Sending a simple text that says, “I see you. I appreciate you.”
When you give the gift of connection, you’re saying:
“You belong. You matter. You’re not alone.”
And that’s a gift no one ever forgets.
My Wake-Up Call About Connection
For years, I thought being a good leader (and honestly, a good friend) meant being the one with all the answers.
I wanted to solve problems, fix things, come through with solutions.
But here’s what I discovered: people don’t always need your answers. They need your attention. They need your presence. They need you to see them and connect them.
The shift for me was huge. When I stopped trying to prove I was the smartest in the room and started focusing on building bridges — my influence multiplied.
And guess what? Yours will too.
Leaders, Here’s the Real Talk
This holiday season, your team won’t remember the clever icebreaker at the Christmas party. They won’t remember the ugly sweater you wore to the Zoom happy hour.
But they will remember how you made them feel.
They’ll remember if you saw them.
They’ll remember if you connected them.
They’ll remember if you created a culture where gratitude wasn’t just seasonal — it was standard.
Connection is the leadership gift that keeps giving long after the decorations come down.
3 Ways to Give the Gift of Connection This Season
Here’s how you can make it real this December:
1. Make one intentional introduction.
Who in your network needs to know each other? Send the email. Make the call.
2. Share gratitude out loud.
Pick one person on your team and spotlight them in front of others.
3. Create a connection moment.
It doesn’t have to be fancy — a coffee chat, a gratitude huddle, or even a 10-minute check-in. What matters is people feel seen.
Your Turn
This holiday season, don’t overthink it. You don’t need the perfect gift bag or the biggest budget.
✨ The best gift leaders can give is connection.
Because when you build bridges, you amplify possibility — for your people, your culture, and yourself.
👉 Over to you: Who’s one person you want to reconnect with before the year ends? Drop their name in the comments (and maybe send them a note today, too).