35 Best Secret Santa Questions to Spark Workplace Fun
Smart Secret Santa questions will reveal the preferences of your giftee at work, especially if you don’t know them well. In this guide, we share insightful questions for Secret Santa plus a free app to exchange thoughtful gifts anonymously.
Secret Santa is a fun workplace tradition where participants exchange gifts without revealing themselves. Players draw names and bring one assigned gift for the person they’re matched with. To know what exactly to give, ask questions below to reveal what your recipient is dreaming about.
What are the Secret Santa benefits for the workplace?
Setting up a Secret Santa exchange is a fun way to celebrate the season with coworkers. It also fosters a positive workplace culture and team bonding. Here are just some advantages of running a gift exchange:
- Boost staff motivation and morale – 85% of employers believe that Christmas parties, including Secret Santa, have a positive impact on collaboration and motivation. Moreover, employees who enjoyed a corporate party are less likely to resign next year.
- Show appreciation – 64% of employees surveyed see Christmas gifts as a sign of respect and appreciation to coworkers. Gift-giving helps build a healthier culture and strengthens bonds in the office.
- Increase job satisfaction – Secret Santa works as a team-building activity, helping coworkers work productively together, which directly impacts job satisfaction.
A fun alternative to Secret Santa questionnaires
Using Secret Santa questionnaires helps learn about the recipient’s wishes and give a personalized present. Yet, there’s an easier way to give a thoughtful, desirable gift – play Secret Santa with wishlists.
In the MySanta app, each player can complete a wishlist with desired items from online stores. This eliminates the guessing game – your Santa will see exactly what to give you.
In addition to the wishlist, the app has helpful features for workplace gift exchanges. You can set exceptions so that certain people don’t give to each other, redraw in case someone drops out, and invite unlimited players. Moreover, everything is recorded. An HR manager or game host can see gift progress and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.
If you prefer Secret Santa with questionnaires, below you’ll find a list of insightful questions to learn more about your recipient and give them a great surprise.
Top Secret Santa questions for work exchanges
Here are the insightful & fun Secret Santa questions to help you reveal the recipient’s likes, dislikes, and gift preferences.
Secret Santa questions about tastes and preferences
To pick the gift your recipient will appreciate, take the time to understand their personal style and taste. These questions delve into their likes and dislikes to help you make a thoughtful choice.
1. What is your favorite season?
2. Do you prefer sweet or savory taste?
3. What is your favorite brand of clothing/accessory/kitchenware, etc.?
4. What is your favorite coffee/tea flavor?
5. What are your favorite colors to wear?
6. Do you prefer floral, fruity, earthy, or fresh scents?
7. Are there any specific textures or materials you dislike?
Creative Secret Santa questions
Creative questions spark imagination and can lead to creative gift ideas. Instead of asking about one’s preferences, you reveal the coworker’s personality and turn choosing a gift into an exciting quest.
1. What achievement in your life are you most proud of?
2. If you won a million dollars, what would you do?
3. Do you prefer formal dinners or BBQ?
4. If you were a dessert, what would you be and why?
5. What is your favorite motivational quote?
6. What is one Christmas song you love and one song you absolutely hate?
7. What emoji do you overuse in work chats?
Practical Secret Santa questions
These questions help identify the needs and preferences of your giftee for everyday items. Ask them if you want to give something they’ll regularly use.
1. What is your clothing size?
2. Do you have any pets?
3. What's your general style: minimalist, bold, or classic?
4. Are there any animals or characters you particularly like?
5. Would you rather exchange practical goods or gag gifts?
6. What are your favorite tech accessories?
7. What treats do you always keep on your desk?
Questions about hobbies and interests for a Secret Santa questionnaire
Discovering the recipient’s hobbies and passions is essential to choosing a great personalized gift. These questions help understand their favorite activities outside work.
1. What are your new favorite hobbies? What hobbies did you have before?
2. Do you often read books? If so, what’s your favorite genre?
3. What are your top artists on Spotify?
4. What do you usually do to unwind after a hard day?
5. Which celebrity do you look like?
6. Are you currently working on any personal projects?
7. What is one thing you use every day and cannot do without?
Direct Secret Santa questions about gifts
While asking “What do you want to get?” is too straightforward, there’s no harm in wondering about specific gift desires. This approach will help you pick a truly appreciated gift.
1. Would you rather get something from the store or a thoughtful homemade gift?
2. Do you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies?
3. Would you like to receive an experience as a gift?
4. What stationery/home décor/tech items are you missing?
5. What is one thing you always wanted but never got for yourself?
6. If you could get one thing for the office, what would it be?
7. What’s the best holiday gift you ever received?
How do you ask Secret Santa questions?
If you’re doing Secret Santa the old-fashioned way with a hat, you can distribute questionnaires to all participants. After that, an HR manager or game host collects all questionnaires and distributes each one to this person’s Secret Santa. You can use printed or online questionnaires created with Google Forms.
The downside to this approach is that if someone gets the wrong questionnaire, the whole game can get messed up. To avoid that, it’s best to use an online organizer like the MySanta app. Each player completes a short questionnaire, which is visible only to their Santa.
If you use the MySanta app, you can also ask questions to your recipient in anonymous chats. You can engage in secret discussions and ask as many questions as you like to understand the recipient’s preferences and wishes.
Tips to ask the right questions for your gift exchange
- Ask open-ended questions. Questions that allow for a detailed answer will give you more insights than yes/no questions. For example, instead of asking “Do you like coffee?”, wonder about the person’s favorite hot drink or morning rituals.
- Keep the gift theme in mind. If you agreed to give tech gifts or gift certificates to each other, ask questions related to this theme. Say, you may ask about their favorite brands or hobbies to give a gift that matches their lifestyle.
- Limit the questionnaire. Don’t use a list of 20 questions, as it will take players too long to respond. It’s better to include 5-10 thoughtful questions to reveal the recipient’s preferences.
- Always ask what not to give. Add a question about undesirable gifts to the questionnaire. It’s also helpful to ask about diet and allergies to avoid confusion.
- Don’t ask too-personal questions. At work, avoid questions that may seem intrusive. Don’t ask your coworker about their favorite lingerie brands, perfume, or health as it may lead to a conversation with HR.
Asking the right questions will help you choose a thoughtful, personalized gift for a coworker and spread joy this season. Moreover, questions can create excitement and anticipation, making the recipient wonder who the gift comes from.
The MySanta platform is a great alternative to Secret Santa questionnaires, as players can create wishlists visible to their Secret Santa. Try it this holiday season to make the gift-giving easier and ensure that everyone receives desirable gifts.
FAQs
How do we use a questionnaire for a workplace Secret Santa?
Create a questionnaire of 5-10 questions covering the likes, dislikes, and preferences of each player. The game host gathers questionnaires and hands them to each Santa. Alternatively, you can use online forms or questionnaires in Secret Santa generators such as MySanta.
How can we ensure the questionnaire remains anonymous?
Use an online form that doesn’t collect names (or assigns random ID codes) and have one organizer link answers to participants only when necessary. Or, use a physical drop-box for paper questionnaires.
What if some participants don't fill out the questionnaire?
If some participants answered only a few questions (or none at all), their Secret Santa can bring a generic gift, i.e. a box of chocolates, quality candles, office stationery, small gadgets, or a gift card. If you're using the MySanta organizer, there's an option to message your recipient anonymously and ask questions there.
What is a good budget range for a workplace Secret Santa gift?
A budget of $15 to $25 works well of office gift exchanges. Pick a single range and communicate it clearly to avoid awkward situations. Bringing a slightly more expensive gift is fine, yet spending less is not recommended to avoid hurt feelings.
