The holiday season is a time for reflection, gratitude, and connection, both in our personal lives and in the professional world. And this year, I received a little reminder of just how meaningful small gestures can be.
Out of the blue, someone in my network sent me a recommendation on LinkedIn. It wasn’t prompted by a request or a milestone. It wasn’t strategic or transactional. It was just… genuine. Thoughtful. Heartfelt. Reading it, I was struck not only by the kindness of the gesture, but by the way it captured the human side of our work in recruitment, a side we don’t always stop to notice.
It made me think about how easy it is to take these professional interactions for granted. We spend our days sourcing candidates, coordinating interviews, reviewing résumés, and advising both clients and candidates. And yet, a single note of genuine recognition, like the one I received, can stick far longer than any placement or process ever will.
That’s the magic of gratitude. And it’s especially relevant during the holiday season. In workplaces across the country, employees, colleagues, and clients are juggling deadlines, goals, and year-end wrap-ups. It’s easy to overlook the impact of a simple “thank you” or a small acknowledgment of someone’s effort. But these small gestures are powerful. They humanize our work, strengthen relationships, and, sometimes unexpectedly, make someone’s day, or week, or even year.
From an HR perspective, there’s a lesson here for leaders and professionals: Recognition matters. The holidays are the perfect time to pause and reach out. A personal note, a message of appreciation, or a small act of generosity can make a lasting impression. And the best part? It doesn’t cost a thing; it just requires a bit of thoughtfulness and the willingness to acknowledge someone’s effort.
So this Christmas, I encourage you to reflect not just on the big wins of the year, but on the people who made those wins possible. Maybe it’s a colleague who supported you during a tight deadline, a team member who went the extra mile, or even someone in your network whose small gesture of kindness reminded you why you love what you do.
For me, that unexpected recommendation was more than just words on a screen. It was a reminder of the generosity, thoughtfulness, and humanity that exist in our professional lives if we take a moment to notice.
This holiday season, let’s remember to give that gift back. Send a note. Say thank you. Recognize someone’s effort. It’s a small act that can make a big difference, and maybe, just maybe, it will inspire a little more humanity in the workplaces we’re part of.
From my team to yours: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and here’s to a season full of gratitude, generosity, and genuine connection.