Your least favorite people · 8 picks · Updated
The invite lands at 4:51. The meeting starts at 4:59. It is “quick.” It is never quick. These gifts are professional enough to hand over in front of HR and pointed enough that they'll get the message, eventually. Every one of them is genuinely useful for running a tighter, shorter, more humane meeting.
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A big visual countdown, so everyone in the room can watch the meeting run out of time together.
Real-life use: Time-boxing meetings, focus sprints and the 15-minute standup that's been running 40.
Check price on AmazonOne hour of sand. Not one grain more.
Real-life use: A calm desk timer for deep work, timed breaks or the weekly one-on-one.
Check price on AmazonThe mug that says what everyone in the meeting is thinking, while they sip.
Real-life use: Morning coffee at the desk, or a strategic placement on the conference table.
Check price on AmazonA whole book about saying more with less. Bookmark chapter one for them.
Real-life use: Practical rules for shorter emails, tighter memos and meetings that end on time.
Check price on AmazonBusiness etiquette, including (presumably) the part about respecting people's evenings.
Real-life use: A modern guide to workplace manners, email, meetings and remote work.
Check price on AmazonFor the commute home they'll be taking later than planned. Thanks to themselves.
Real-life use: Noise cancelling for open offices, flights and the train home at 6:15.
Check price on AmazonHonest, affectionate and only slightly a performance review.
Real-life use: A big desk mug for coffee, tea or holding pens during long calls.
Check price on AmazonSoftens the message. Truffles make everything sound like a compliment.
Real-life use: Shareable for the whole team, which is a hint of its own.
Check price on AmazonPairs well with
Timer, mug and a book about brevity. The subtext writes itself.
Pairs well with
Nice enough for the whole team to sign the card.
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