The Best Holiday Gifts for Bosses, According to Bosses

“For me, the perfect gift from a direct report would be inexpensive and practical, something I’ll put to use on the regular at the office — for instance, the extra-small VolantJournalsfrom Moleskine,” says Erik Maza, style features director atTown & Country. “They’ll save me from having to look at Slack during meetings.”

As the deputy editor of food & dining at the ChicagoTribune, Joseph Hernandez prefers a high-tech take on the classicnotebookbrand. “I make it a point to keep a notebook on me at all times, but being able to digitize those notes ([from] interviews, or meeting minutes) and sync them with Evernote has been [extremely] useful,” he says.

Perfect for the boss who keeps an extrabutton-downin their desk drawer, this miniironcomes recommended by Emily Collins, creative director and partner at theMighty Oakanimation studio. Anyone who needs to stay crisp on the go would appreciate it.

“My phone is almost always near-dead, so a portablephone chargerto keep in my bag when I’m out of the office or traveling would be a godsend,” says Hernandez.

Dr. Kat Cohen, CEO of education consultancy IvyWise, is constantly on the go and needs her technology to keep up. “I really appreciate innovative products that help me work efficiently while traveling,” she says. “Thisdeviceis small enough to stash in a purse or carry-on, but projects a full-sized keyboard on any flat service. The long-lasting 1000mah battery is a lifesaver when it comes to working remotely or catching up on emails on long flights.”

Dr. Cohen also recommends this tiny but powerful Bluetooth speaker. “There is a built-in microphone, which can be great for conference calls and business meetings. I also use thedeviceto play my favorite music whenever I’m staying in hotels.”

“I’d want one of thoseellipticalfootrest contraptions,” says Jennifer Caceres, the Advertising Campaign Manager at Comcast Spotlight. “I’m at my desk too much and am always multitasking. I bring my little weights every now and then, but working long hours, especially during the holidays, keeps me from being as active as I want to be.”

“What I would really love is a gift card to Pure Barre orCorePower,” says Heather L. Barmore, director of communications atVoteRunLead. “What I love about both is that it’s the same every time. I am in the middle of moving and miss having a routine. I am quite looking forward to being sore for days.”

Recommended by Sarah Hofstetter, president ofComscore, theNespressoVertuo Machine is a definite upgrade to whatever coffee apparatus is currently sitting in the office kitchen. “It’s sleek-looking, [makes] great coffee, and the pods are fully recyclable,” she says. Retailing for $125 and up, these caffeine-addiction enablers make for good group gifts.

Or if you’re looking for a slightly less-expensive option for acoffee-lovingboss, there’s this temperature-control mug. Mitchell Kass, founder and creative director of Trend Council, says, “Anyone who hates drinking lukewarm coffee would appreciate this.” Plus, the mug was named in our roundup of thetrendiest gifts for menthis holiday season, according to trend forecasters.

Hofstetter also points to this group-gift-appropriatewinepouring contraption as an ideal present for an oenophile.

But if you’re not going in on a gift with a group, this less expensive wine saver is an equally good gift.

“Last year, my staff chipped in to buy me an engraved, cat-shapedmug, and wine stoppers with ceramic cat heads — clearly they found out about my cat obsession — from Etsy,” says Julia Kravets, founder and CEO ofLittle Choc Apothecaryin New York. “I love those gifts so much, because they’re personal, they show that my staff knows a key aspect of my personality, and they support independent artists. Plus, they’re inexpensive, so I don’t feel bad about [my staff] spending too much money on me.”

“I love anything that supports local artists,” says Jordan Rosenacker, the Austin, Texas-based co-founder ofAtlas Coffee Club. “This in particular is from JFRGlass, a local Austin glass-blower that does everything by hand. I love it because it’s great for the office as both a conversation starter and an art piece to showcase, and it inspires people to get something local and custom and not just give money to a big chain.”

“To me, there is nothing sweeter to receive than a thoughtful, genuine handwrittennotefrom an employee that expresses thanks, conveys gratitude, or congratulates someone for a milestone at work,” says Naama Bloom, the VP of marketing atZulily. “A nice card is always appreciated, and it’s also a way to express your own personality.”

Lisa Gorke, executive vice president of people and client solutions atIntegra Partners, prefers a team outing — whether it be volunteer work, a nice dinner, or a night of bowling — over agift-wrapped goodie. “Being a leader can be a thankless job so when your people pause to say thanks in a really thoughtful way, it makes it all worth it,” she says. Go in on a gift card from AirBnb (you can use them on experiences rather than trips) to cover the cost of a unique group outing in your city.

If your boss’s busy schedule means their midday meal is usuallylunch al desko(theBon Appétit–coined name for thedesk lunch), gift them a tasty — and tasteful — bottle ofolive oilto zhuzh it up. Fiorella Valdesolo, editor ofGather Journal, firmly believes “a few glugs of good olive oil and/or a generous squeeze of lemon act as a magic bullet for upgrading otherwise blah desk lunches.” She recommends Brightland for its “easy-on-the-eyes packaging.”

Alexis Swerdloff, editor of the Strategist, swears this all-naturalaromatic stress treatmentfrom Tata Harper is like Klonopin (in scent form) and makes her “feel like all will be okay,” even in the midst of overwhelming workdays. She says it “holds pride of place next to my computer, but I’ve thrown it in my tote bag when I know I’ll be in other stress-triggering situations.” Plus, Alexis notes, it would make for a “really nice” gift.