Developing A Recognition Program
Careful planning is the most important part of an effective awards program. In developing yours, you will need to do the following:
Identify the program's purpose and objectives:
Do you want to show gratitude, recognize membership, encourage achievement, or reward accomplishment?
Do you want to create a sense of common belonging, or mark someone for distinction?
Do you want to establish a stronger identity for your organization or match the personality of the recipient?
Answers to questions like these will help you design the right program for your organization.
Decide the kinds of awards you want:
The key to successful recognition is selecting the appropriate kind of award. Tangible awards have proven to be the most effective way - better than money or other means - to say "thank you" or "good job." In deciding whether to give an elegant piece of crystal, a beautifully engraved plaque, a customized lapel pin, a personalized desk accessory, or any other item, keep in mind that an appropriate award is:
• representative of what is accomplished
• attractive enough to wear or keep in the home or office
• consistent with the purpose and image of the organization
• right for the level or importance of the achievement
• in line with the organization's budget
• well crafted with the highest quality materials affordable
Because of their training and experience, the recognition experts at RCB Awards can guide you in choosing the right awards for your organization.
Establish a budget and schedule:
There are many ways to recognize people, and the most expensive are not necessarily the best. We can help you determine how much you should budget to meet your objectives, or how to get the most with the funds you have. We will also help you schedule your orders to get what you want without having to pay rush charges.
Plan for the awards presentation:
Part of what makes an award memorable and appreciated is the way it is presented. Think ahead about how you will give various awards. Membership recognition items are often sent through the mail, so you may not want to give something heavy. Fine crystal becomes even more precious when presented in an attractive gift box. Our awards specialists can show you how to plan for presentations that enhance the perceived value of the item received.
Innovative awards programs for Organizations:
RCB Awards serves hundreds of customers throughout the country. We have a wealth of experience in developing innovative awards programs that more than pay for themselves in the form of increased effort and achievement. Here are some examples of how they can help an organization like yours:
• Service awards - Whether these are for out-going board members, sales leaders, or motivational rewards, awards for service to the organization are important both for recognizing those who contributed and for encouraging other team members to do the same. Our recognition experts can provide you with distinctive plaques, fine crystal, attractive desk accessories, and a variety of other items that will enable you to give treasured symbols of gratitude to those who contribute to the success of your organization.
• Certification - Pins and certificates are standard means of recognizing educational accomplishment in an association or profession. You may also want to consider some of the new plaques designed to add plates or disks as the courses required for certification are completed. Given at the time of enrollment in the certification program, products like these give enrollees something to be proud of and show others even before they complete the program.
• Membership Recognition - Certificates, plaques, decals, nametags and lapel pins are typical means of recognizing membership, rewarding renewals, and encouraging prospective members to join. We can suggest other ideas, too, such as personal calendar books, desk planners and other items members will want to use and keep for a long time. We can also recommend ways to mark member anniversaries that will assist your member retention efforts
• Contests and competitions - One of the best ways to draw attention to your organization is to develop a specific award, like the famous Pulitzer Prize, for outstanding achievement in the field you represent. You'll find that our staff has plenty of ideas for ways to recognize those who excel, or who win various competitions or contests. We are expert in designing custom awards that will become the hallmark of your industry.
• Staff recognition - Recognizing your staff effort is a great way to keep morale and productivity high. Employee of the Month, Top Performer, and Star Achiever are just some awards to consider. Our helpful and friendly staff can recommend a variety of programs and awards to encourage and reward achievement among your staff.
