As the holiday season approaches, many professionals on LinkedIn may be wondering how best to spread holiday cheer to their networks in a professional, inclusive way. With diverse religious and cultural celebrations taking place during this time of year, what are some appropriate ways to wish others well without excluding or offending? Let’s explore some recommendations for holiday greetings on LinkedIn.
Keep it simple
A simple “Happy Holidays!” or “Season’s Greetings!” are great go-to options for sending warm wishes to your connections while being mindful of the diversity of winter holiday celebrations. These greetings encompass all of the end-of-year festivities without focusing on any one tradition. For example:
“Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a wonderful new year!”
“Sending my warmest holiday wishes to you and yours!”
These cheerful, inclusive messages convey the spirit of the season without referencing any particular holiday by name.
Make it personal
While generic holiday greetings work for acquaintances and new connections, close professional contacts may appreciate a more personalized message. If you know which holidays someone celebrates, feel free to reference them in your greeting. For instance:
“Wishing you light and love this Diwali season!”
“Merry Christmas and happy holidays!”
“Hope you have a relaxing winter break. See you in 2023!”
Tailoring your message shows care and understanding of what matters most to the recipient. Just be sure you know what holidays they actually observe before mentioning specifics.
Consider religious diversity
Major religious holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Ramadan, and Chinese New Year all take place around this time. While “Happy Holidays” embraces them collectively, you can recognize individual traditions with a bit more detail if appropriate:
“Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!”
“Happy Hanukkah! Wishing you light and warmth as the days grow shorter.”
“Hope you have a joyful holiday season. Happy Kwanzaa!”
These greetings demonstrate awareness of religious diversity while offering specific well-wishes.
Recognize cultural celebrations
The winter holiday season includes several cultural holidays and celebrations beyond religion. Here are some examples along with greeting ideas:
– New Year’s Eve/Day: “Hope you have a fun and safe New Year’s celebration!”
– Boxing Day (Canada, UK, Australia): “Happy Boxing Day to my Canadian/British/Aussie friends!”
– Omisoka (Japan): “Wishing you a happy Omisoka!”
– Dongzhi Festival (China): “Hope you have a wonderful Dongzhi Festival!”
– Yule (Pagan): “Blessed Yule to those celebrating the winter solstice!”
– Festivus (Secular): “Happy Festivus for the rest of us!”
– Winter solstice: “Happy winter solstice!”
Acknowledging cultural diversity demonstrates thoughtfulness and care for the cultures represented in your network. A little research helps ensure you reference the right celebrations.
Send holiday cards and gifts
LinkedIn allows you to send electronic holiday cards and gifts to your connections right from your account. You can choose greeting card designs and animated gift images related to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, and winter themes.
These digital holiday greetings let you celebrate the season while showing appreciation for your professional network. You can customize cards with a personal message too.
Post holiday photos and memories
Share your holiday spirit by posting festive photos on your LinkedIn profile. Images of decorated trees, holiday parties, virtual gatherings, homemade food, family traditions, and seasonal fun provide some holiday cheer. You can even create albums dedicated to your holiday celebrations and activities.
Posting holiday memories is a chance to share traditions and connect more personally while spreading joy. Just remember to use discretion when posting photos with friends and family. Not everyone wants their holiday pics on public display.
Give holiday thanks and well-wishes
The holidays present a great opportunity to express gratitude and acknowledge those who have supported you during the year. Share messages of thanks and holiday well-wishes to business partners, coworkers, clients, employers, employees, and professional groups.
For example:
“Wishing a happy and healthy holiday season to our amazing clients and partners!”
“Thank you for all your hard work this year. Sending warm wishes to our entire team for a relaxing holiday.”
Giving holiday thanks shows appreciation for the value others bring while building stronger professional bonds.
Be inclusive year-round
While the holiday season highlights opportunities for inclusive greetings and celebrations, diversity considerations are important all year. Here are some tips for being respectful and mindful:
– Use inclusive language in all professional communications, avoiding assumptions about religious or cultural affiliations.
– Learn about different cultural and religious holiday traditions so you can recognize them appropriately if the occasion arises.
– Avoid scheduling important work activities on significant religious or cultural holidays without accommodating employees who celebrate them.
– Offer flexibility and sensitivity regarding holiday-related time off and remote work requests.
– Refrain from pressuring people to participate in holiday activities and gift exchanges if they politely decline.
– If planning work holiday parties, make sure decor and menus accommodate diverse religious and cultural preferences.
With knowledge, flexibility, and sensitivity, professionals can spread inclusive holiday cheer while building a welcoming, diverse network and workplace. The thought and care put into holiday messages can foster deeper connections that strengthen professional relationships into the new year.
Conclusion
Spreading holiday cheer in a diverse, professional environment requires an inclusive approach. Stick with broad seasonal greetings or tailor your message to the recipient’s specific traditions. Share festive photos, give thanks, send virtual cards and gifts, and focus on inclusivity year-round. With these tips, LinkedIn professionals can thoughtfully share holiday spirit while respecting the diversity of the professional community. Most importantly, the sincerity and care behind your message will be felt regardless of the exact words you choose. Happy Holidays!
| Holiday | Sample Greetings |
|---|---|
| Christmas | “Merry Christmas!” “Happy holidays!” “Season’s greetings!” |
| Hanukkah | “Happy Hanukkah!” “Wishing you a joyful Festival of Lights!” “Chag Sameach!” |
| Kwanzaa | “Happy Kwanzaa!” “Wishing you a celebratory and reflective Kwanzaa season!” “Habari Gani?” |
| Diwali | “Happy Diwali!” “Wishing you prosperity and light during this festival of lights!” “Shubh Deepavali!” |
| Chinese New Year | “Happy Lunar New Year!” “Wishing you prosperity in the year of the rabbit!” “Xin nian kuai le!” |
| Winter Solstice | “Happy winter solstice!” “Hope you enjoy the return of longer days!” “Blessed Yule!” |
| New Year’s | “Happy New Year!” “Best wishes for 2023!” “Hope you have a fun and safe NYE celebration!” |