These days, it’s hard to find a great boss. Research by Psychology Today found that 60-75% of bosses are poor leaders. This is why, if an excellent manager boss is leaving the company, you’ll want to give them an appreciation gift to thank them for being the great leader that they are.
But here’s your dilemma: You have no idea what thoughtful gift to give a male boss. What is the perfect gift for your boss?
I’ll help you answer that by listing 20 thoughtful farewell gifts for a boss male. This list ranges from gift ideas if you’re friends with your boss and know them well, as well as gift ideas for someone you like but aren’t close to. So let’s go!
20 Gift Ideas to Give a Male Boss Who’s Going Away
Let me get this straight first. You’re not required to get your boss anything when they leave. However, as Keshavkumar Ramanathan from Quora puts it:
“If the relationship, respect, love, and your boss’s treatment during your tenure have satisfied you very much and deep-rooted in you, why not?”
That said, here are 20 thoughtful farewell gifts for a boss male:
- A book
- Plants
- Thank-you card
- Planner
- Massage pillow
- Travel case for electronics/cables
- Self-care items
- Portable keyboard
- Coffee set
- Insulated tumbler
- Whiskey glass
- Mug and coaster
- Desk clock
- Flash drive
- Gift cards
- Desk organizer
- Power bank
- Baked treats
- Lunch container
- Tickets to a sporting event
1. A book
Instagram @readswithravi
If you know your boss loves to read, the best gift idea is to give him a book. Now I know what you’re thinking, “What kind of book should I give?”
The most appropriate books will be those that help your boss improve even more. I mean, if he’s starting a new career, you can go for self-help or leadership books like “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey or “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson.
There are so many books like these that hit both two birds with one stone – reading and improving their ways. If not, you can buy a book with motivational quotes to return the favor of them motivating you.
You can find other book ideas in these articles:
- Essential Situational Leadership Books to Guide You to Greater Success
- 15 Best Books on Assertiveness in the Workplace
- 10 Best Books On Critical Thinking And Problem Solving
- 9 Best Career Change Books for a Successful Career Transition
2. Plants
Instagram @_plantsbypost_
Did you know that plants can reduce office ill health symptoms by 25%? So if you want to send your boss off with a “health” gift, you can give them a plant.
The nice thing about plants is that there are hundreds of options to choose from. Yes, I’m talking about indoor plants that your boss can place in their next office.
The expert team of plant care professionals from Ambius gives a list of the best indoor plants for a going away gift.
- Philodendrons
- Pothos
- Aglaonema
- Dracaena
- Palms
- Ficus trees
- Sansevieria
- Anthuriums
- Nephthytis
- Succulents
- Ferns
3. Thank-you card
Instagram @greetingsisland
OK, let’s say you aren’t close with your boss but they were still the best boss to you. You might feel awkward or uncomfortable giving them a gift. But, you still want to get a thank-you gift for your boss.
If this is your case, then a simple thank-you card can do the trick. It isn’t too much but it isn’t nothing also. Plus, you get to write what you think of their management and communication skills.
Sometimes, something as personal as a letter is much better than a physical gift. It might be small and simple, but I’ll tell you, they’ll surely appreciate it.
Read More: 20 Meaningful Farewell Gifts for a Female Boss
4. Planner
Instagram @carry_on_mnl
If you’re looking for a personalized farewell gift for male boss, another best boss gift idea is a planner. You not only get to personalize it, it’s super useful, too.
You can inscribe your boss’s name on the cover or you can choose a planner in their favorite color. If you want to go the extra mile, you can get a planner gift set, including a planner, a pen, and maybe some sticky notes.
Jennifer Herrity, a Career Coach and Senior Content Marketing Manager at Indeed.com gives her take on this:
“You can consider purchasing either a dated calendar or an undated one, so your boss can choose when they start using the calendar. They may want to start using it after they complete a busy project so they aren’t incorporating a new system in the middle of an active time at work. If you get a dated calendar, you can write small notes for National Boss’s Day and your boss’s birthday so they can discover it later.”
5. Massage pillow
Instagram @bngmarket
Suppose your boss is going to retire, so you’re looking for a retirement gift. In that case, the best gift for boss is a massage pillow. This way, they can enjoy the relaxation of retirement even more.
When selecting a massage pillow, try to find one that can hit all the common muscle pain points. This includes neck, shoulders, lower back, hips, legs, and feet. With this, your boss can use it wherever he needs to and not just stick to one area.
If you can’t find a massage pillow, you can go for a massage gun. This will make sure that all pains can be massaged with ease.
6. Travel case for electronics/cables
Instagram @aswaqtime
What if you’re looking for a farewell gift for male boss who has everything – phone, tablet, charges, earphones, wires, etc…? One going away gift for boss that they’ll highly appreciate is a travel case for electronics/cables.
This is a sort of mini pouch that will store all their electronics and wires. Not only that, it will keep everything organized, too.
This thoughtful gift will be a great help as they gather all their things from their old desk. And, whatever adventure is in store for them next, you can be sure that a travel case for electronics/cables will be super useful.
7. Self-care items
Instagram @marleymensgco
Who said females only like self-care gifts? Nope, males like them, too. This is why another great leaving gift is a self-care items package. The fun part is that you can decide what to put into it.
If your boss has a beard, then you can add beard oil or balm. Maybe you can add a shave and shaving cream, too. Perfumes, colognes, and deodorant sprays are always a hit. Face moisturizers, lip balm, face towels, hair gel, and all those can be part of it as well.
Of course, self-care items aren’t only the perfect leaving gift. It can also be a birthday gift or a Christmas gift. So this will give you ideas for when those days come up.
8. Portable keyboard
Instagram @mobilepixelsus
If you want to give a new job gift, then your boss will benefit from a portable keyboard. Let’s say you know he’ll always be on the go in his new job, this gift will ensure he always has a keyboard with him.
If it’s not Bluetooth, you should include a connector so he can use it with his phone or tablet. This will make it super easy to take notes, write to-do lists, and do the minutes of a meeting or conference. Giving a gift that your boss can use for his new endeavors is very thoughtful.
9. Coffee set
Instagram @upgroundsmnl
Alterra Coffee Roasters conducted a survey that saw 65% of workers drink coffee in the office. I mean, who doesn’t love the pleasant aroma, strong taste, and energy and mood boosters?
If you know your boss loves coffee, or you always see them drinking, then a coffee set is the perfect goodbye gift. If you go for this, choose Artisan coffee beans to make it special. And to complete the set, you can include a coffee mug, a mixer, a grinder, and a French press.
With this set, you’re giving your boss everything they need to have a good, strong coffee in the mornings or during their work hours.
10. Insulated tumbler
Instagram @personalized.tumbler
Another personalized gift that’s super useful is an insulated tumbler. I mean, everyone needs to drink water daily. So to show your boss that you care about their hydration, you can give them this farewell gift for boss.
Of course, this doesn’t just have to be used for water. Since it’s insulated, your boss can add cold or hot drinks to keep the temperature for many hours.
Even if you’re not close to the boss leaving, an insulated tumbler is a safe gift that’s also thoughtful to their everyday needs. You don’t need to worry if they’ll like it or not.
11. Whiskey glass
Instagram @corporate_giftworldkenya
If you know your boss is a whiskey fan, then a whiskey glass is one of the best gifts for your boss male. Yes, you can customize this gift as well.
You might say, “A glass is so boring to give.” If you think so, then why not give a whiskey glass set that comes with great packaging? This may include a glass, a whiskey bottle, whiskey cubes, cube tongs, and more.
Even if you just go for the whiskey glass, you’re giving something for your boss’s leisure time, so what’s not to love about that? It may seem boring, but I’ll tell you, it’s anything BUT boring for a whiskey lover.
12. Mug and coaster
Instagram @thethriftyfoxshop
Still on the train of beverages, why not get a boss mug and coaster? Again, you can customize it to say “world’s best boss”, “The boss”, or something along those lines. This way, you’re expressing your gratitude while giving them a useful gift.
If you want to be fancy, you can get a mug with a heating coaster. If you have a funny boss, you can make the mug and coaster have a funny gift design. Being able to get creative with mug designs is great.
The best part is that this is a super cheap gift. You don’t need to splurge to buy a meaningful and thoughtful thank you gift.
13. Desk clock
Instagram @maison.cura
If you notice that your boss doesn’t have a desk clock, you can give that as a leaving day gift. Even though we can check the time on our laptops, phones, and watches, a desk clock is still a good idea. I mean, one glance and you’ll know the time already.
Plus, many desk clocks allow you to set an alarm. This way, your boss is always aware of the time and won’t miss important meetings. Jennifer Herrity adds:
“A desk clock is a decorative piece that your boss may enjoy looking at. More than providing the time, it can nicely bring together the entire look of a desk.”
14. Flash drive