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Every workplace has at least one person who feels like they’re already living in next year.
They’re the ones who put their hand up for new projects, ask the uncomfortable but important questions in meetings, and are always tinkering with a new tool or idea. You can tell they’re not planning to coast through 2026; they’re getting ready to step up.
If someone specific popped into your mind just now, this article is about them.
This isn’t a guide to random presents. It’s about picking a New Year gift that quietly says to a colleague:
“I see your potential – and I’m backing you for a big 2026.”
The Coworker Who’s Clearly Going Somewhere
Think about this person for a moment.
They don’t just tick off tasks; they try to improve how things are done. They stay back a little to ask follow-up questions, or they send you a message later with a link to a tool that might solve the problem you were just talking about. They might be the person others go to when something new launches, because “they’ll probably already know about it.”
They might be:
- A rising star on your team
- Someone you manage and genuinely want to champion
- A peer who quietly motivates you to raise your own game
They’re not necessarily loud or flashy, but there’s an energy about them: they are leaning towards the future, not away from it. That’s what makes gifting for them different. You’re not just trying to find “something nice” you’re choosing something that lines up with where they’re heading.
Why a 2026 Career Needs a Different Kind of Gift
Work is changing faster than most job descriptions can keep up. AI tools are suddenly part of everyday tasks. Processes that used to be manual are being automated. Teams are spread across cities or countries, and visibility no longer comes from just being the last one in the office.
For someone who wants to step up in 2026, all of that isn’t background noise; it’s the playing field. They’re quietly asking themselves questions like:
- How do I stay relevant while everything is shifting?
- How do I stand out for the right reasons, not just by working longer hours?
- What should I be learning now so I’m “promotion ready”, not scrambling later?
A random scented candle, a box of chocolates, or a generic gift card simply doesn’t speak to any of that. Those gifts say, “You’re nice to work with.” There’s nothing wrong with that, but for this particular coworker, you have an opportunity to say something more meaningful:
“I believe in your next chapter.”
That’s where a different type of gift comes in.
Three Simple Rules for Gifting an Ambitious Coworker
Before we talk about specific ideas, it helps to have a few guiding rules so you don’t accidentally make things weird.
Rule 1: Your gift should recognise their potential.
For most coworkers, a bottle of wine is fine. For someone on the verge of a step up, you want something that clearly connects to their growth or goals. It doesn’t have to be grand or expensive, but it should feel like you chose it for them, not just grabbed the nearest “office gift” on a shelf.
Rule 2: It should be practical enough to fit into their real life.
Ambitious people are usually busy. If your gift demands ten spare weekends and a new personality, it’s going to sit untouched. Look for things they can dip into on a lunch break, on the commute, or over a quiet week in January – things that give ideas they can act on, not obligations to feel guilty about.
Rule 3: It should be encouraging, not heavy.
You’re a coworker, not their parent or therapist. The last thing you want is a gift that feels like a performance review disguised as a present. The tone you’re aiming for is, “You’re already doing great – I thought this might give you even more of an edge,” not “Here’s how to fix yourself.”
Keep those three ideas in mind, and you’ll instinctively avoid the awkward stuff.
Why Think Digital – Rewired for the AI Age Is the Perfect 2026 Gift
Most ambitious professionals right now are aware that AI and digital tools are changing everything… but very few have the time or headspace to properly understand what that means for them. They don’t want jargon. They don’t want hype. They just want to know: “How do I use this in my job so that I stay valuable and ahead of the curve?”
That’s the exact gap Think Digital – Rewired for the AI Age is designed to fill.
Instead of abstract theory, it gives clear, human explanations of what “thinking digital” actually looks like in day-to-day work. It shows how AI and modern tools can amplify someone who’s already good at their role, rather than replace them. It nudges the reader from a quiet fear of being left behind towards a mindset of, “I know how to adapt; I know how to keep growing.”
What makes it particularly gift-friendly is how practical it is. The book isn’t asking them to become a data scientist or a futurist. It’s showing them:
- How AI and digital systems are reshaping workplaces and roles
- How to use those tools to solve real problems, not just tick boxes
- How to rethink their own career path so they’re positioned for opportunities, not threatened by change
In other words, it’s not just a “tech book”, and it’s not just a “career book”. It sits at the intersection of the two – exactly where your 2026 coworker lives.
There’s also the social aspect to consider. As a New Year gift from a coworker, Think Digital – Rewired for the AI Age hits a smart balance. It’s professional enough to fit in a workplace context, but personal enough to feel like you actually care about their future. It’s something they can read in their own time, over the holidays or in slow weeks, without any pressure to report back.
It doesn’t say, “Here’s everything you’re doing wrong.” It says, “You’re the kind of person who can thrive in what’s coming next. Here’s something to help.”
That’s a very different message.
How to Give a Career-Focused Book Without Making It Awkward
Of course, the way you give a gift like this matters almost as much as the gift itself.
If you’re a teammate at the same level, keep it casual and collaborative. You might hand it over with a simple line like:
“You’re one of the people I learn the most from at work. I read this and kept thinking of you – I reckon you’ll pull out some powerful ideas for 2026.”
If you’re their manager, the tone can be more affirming, but still light:
“You’ve had a strong year, and I can see you stepping up even further next year. This book is very much where I see our team and the industry going. I’d love for you to be right at the front of that.”
And if you’re more of a mentor or senior colleague, you can frame it as a shortcut:
“You remind me of where I was a few years back, but you’ve got better tools available than I did. This is the kind of book I wish I’d had earlier. Take what’s useful, ignore what isn’t – I just thought it might give you an extra edge.”
A Gift That Says More Than “Happy New Year”
At some point, you’ll still need to decide: do you get them the usual “nice but forgettable” gift, or something that actually lines up with the future they’re building?
There’s nothing wrong with treats and trinkets. But for the coworker who’s clearly ready to step up in 2026, you have a chance to give something that quietly changes the trajectory of how they think, work and plan their career.
Think Digital – Rewired for the AI Age does exactly that. It hands them language, tools and confidence for an AI-heavy, fast-moving world in a form they can explore at their own pace.
You’re not just putting a wrapped gift on their desk. You’re sending a message they’ll remember long after the decorations are packed away:
“I don’t just enjoy working with you now. I believe in where you’re going next.”
That, more than anything, is what makes it one of the best New Year gifts you can give a coworker who’s ready to step up in 2026.
Order here: “Think Digital – Rewired for the AI Age”
