Holiday gifts for your favorite project manager

It’s snowing again here in the Rocky Mountain West and the holiday gift season is right around the corner. Folks are busy worrying about the conversions and implementations they’re going to do after the holiday and business slows down. Or they’re looking forward to a very quiet two weeks as their co-workers and clients go on vacation.

In the spirit of the season, here are a few gift ideas for the project manager on your list. I’ll have to admit, these are items that I definitely would appreciate.

Writey Board

I love my Writey Board. I want at least one more, and probably two. The current one on the wall has my progress board. Writey Boards are dry-eraseable sheets that stick to the wall.  You can move them when you need to – no holes in the wall. I have the 2 x 3 ft. white board version which retails for $25.00. The boards come in black and transparent and you can even buy white board paint to transform your entire wall into a white board.  If you love white boards but don’t want to drill holes in the wall to hang one, check these out. Find these cool holiday gifts at Amazon.com or writeyboards.com.

Moleskine with Evernote subscription

I also love Evernote, but I find that I tend to need to write notes, particularly when I’m reviewing golf courses* and facilitating meetings. Now, you can combine the writing with a Moleskine notebook for the ultimate note-taking combination. This notebook is set up so that you snap a picture of your hand-written notes and Evernote creates a digital copy and stores it. There are even stickers to use to help categorize your notes.

This version, the Evernote Business Notebook with Smart Stickers and a three-month premium membership to Evernote is $37.50.

I don’t have one of these, but I’m hopeful. Find it at Moleskine.com. Your favorite project manager will be your best friend for life!

Writing instruments

Perhaps I just have a fondness for the actual act of writing, but your favorite project manager could always use a nice pen. Put a few dollars into it and maybe get them a combination pen and stylus. Folks can be particular about their writing instruments, so you might ask a few questions of your recipient before selecting the right gift.  Check out Cross.com for the high-end and ParkerPen.com for a budget alternative.

Services for stress relief

I’m at an age where I really don’t need lots of stuff – Writey Boards and Evernote excepted. If someone wants to give me a gift, I request something consumable. Bottle of wine, some good coffee, or a gift certificate for my local spa. Some days, a good massage or facial can really put the stress of managing a project team into perspective.  I’m in favor of occasional pampering. Check out your local area for the best spas near you.

The holiday season is a great time to remember your favorite project manager.  If you would like a copy of this article to leave with potential gift givers, click the button below for a .PDF version. Happy holidays!

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*You didn’t know I reviewed golf courses? Check out boomergolfbliss.com for proof.