PROVIDING A CONTEXT FOR RECOGNITION: HOW TO PRESENT AN AWARD

by Dr. Bob Nelson
Recognition Pro: Coaching Managers to Recognize & Reward


Regardless of what forms of incentive, recognition or rewards you are using in your organization, you will achieve higher value if you are mindful of how such items are delivered.

Take, for example, a five-year service award.  I contend the activity of personally recognizing that employee milestone is many times more meaningful than the specific token gift that may be received.  Instead of receiving a five-year pin, logo'd jewelry or a choice of gift delivered to your desk with a form letter several months after your anniversary, most employees would be far more touched to get a personal call or visit from their manager on the day of their anniversary.  Their manager could say something like: "I noticed it was your five-year anniversary today.  Can you believe how fast the time has gone?  I can still remember your first day of work!  I was excited about having you on the team then and I'm excited about having you with us today.  Thanks for confirming my good judgment in hiring you!"

Of course, the manager would have to take some initiative to mark his calendar in advance and take a few minutes to connect with the employee on that day, but it's exactly those personal actions that give the interaction so much meaning for the typical employee.  The thoughtful, personal touch tells the employee that although you are busy, you are not too busy when it comes to taking time for an employee.

In another example, I know someone who had been a part of a project team that lasted for quite some time.  The team members worked hard and they achieved significant results.  Many weeks after their last meeting, coffee mugs with an imprinted name of the project mysteriously appeared on each member's desk.  My friend's reaction was "I guess this is for all the overtime I worked on that project.  Some thanks!"

Needless to say, the lack of context given to this recognition item undermined what otherwise might have been a very thoughtful gesture of thanks and teamwork.  Whoever went through the effort and expense to provide the coffee mugs could have pulled the group together--perhaps for a celebrations lunch--and distributed the mugs at that time as a memento of the team project with individual words of thanks for each team member.  In that instance the coffee mugs would have been more likely to serve as a symbolic reminder of that shared team effort for years to come.


Besides making recognition more meaningful, providing a context adds a practical element to the activity as well.  It gives you a chance to:

1. Specifically identify the desired performance thus eliminating any guessing on the part of the employee and creating a strong link Between the desired performance and the reward.
2. Generalize the specific performance to a larger category of desired behavior such as teamwork, a company value or organizational initiative.
3. Set a public example for other employees as to what things get noticed and rewarded in your work environment.
   

Thus a manager can obtain a benefit on several levels by verbally recognizing an employee as follows:  "John, thanks for working late last night to help us wrap up that proposal.  I appreciate that you did it without being asked.  It's that type of initiative that tells me you're really committed to our group and it's exactly what we need to reach the goals we've all been aiming for this year."
Taking the time to personalize the delivery of any achievement award adds to its values for all of us.  It creates an emotional impact that seems rarely felt today in the workplace.

By providing a context for an award or recognition item, you have a chance to tie the item and event to a larger context for the employee, thus potentially connecting one's job responsibilities to a larger framework, a deeper sense of commitment and group purpose, and ultimately to the overall mission of the organization.

Posted by Curt Denevan:

The Right Presentation can make all the Difference

Posted by Curt Denevan:

The Fundamentals of an Effective Presentation

Why is a presentation necessary? By establishing an employee recognition program within your company, you demonstrate that you know recognition is a powerful leadership tool. It makes a statement to your employees about what is important to the business and what is valued by the leaders within the company. It is also one of the most effective ways to reinforce an organization’s culture, support its objectives and retain top performers.

An effective recognition program achieves the following:

• Builds self-esteem
• Reinforces desired behaviors
• Helps create an atmosphere of appreciation and trust
• Promotes empowerment and involvement
• Creates loyalty to the company

Who should be present?  Imagine training long hours for a big race and then winning first place, only you aren’t allowed to tell anyone about your victory. Our achievements in life, no matter how small, are more meaningful to us when we share them with others. Keep this in mind when deciding who will be at the recognition event. The presentation will have much more impact if the associate is recognized in front of his/her peers (and senior management and additional guests if a more formal presentation is planned). The appropriate peer recognition will generate excitement for others to also strive for the high goals of achievement and recognition. 

Remember to make the presentation upbeat, fun and to the point. Your preparation will make the event a memorable Magic Moment for all. 

What will the presenter say? The most important thing to remember is that the presentation should be personal. Consider the flowing when preparing what you will say:

•  Address the associate by name.
• Research the important information including years of service, accomplishments and contributions prior to the presentation.
• Share a work-related short story or anecdote if appropriate, but always avoid embarrassing jokes or other comments that may make the associate uncomfortable.
• Communicate how honored you are to have the opportunity to recognize him or her.
• Congratulate the associate, say “thank you” and shake his or her hand.

Where will the presentation take place? Whether you are planning a casual or more formal presentation, the event is important and can be a powerful management tool towards developing increased commitment to the company’s vision and core values. You can recognize an associate at his or her work place, or, if desired, in a more formal setting like a banquet hall. Keep in mind the number of people who will be attending the event and plan the location accordingly. Whatever the setting, however, remember that this should be a special occasion for the associate and his/her peer group.

When should the presentation occur? There is no specific time of year to hold a recognition event because it should take place at a “special time” for your company. Most companies, however, hold an annual event to recognize their associates. Once a year is an optimal time to guarantee that milestones don’t go unnoticed while still ensuring the event remains “special” instead of an everyday occurrence. Whenever you plan to hold your event(s), remember to recognize important milestones like the following:

•  Years of Service (usually 1 year, 5 year, 10 year, etc)
•  Significant performance accomplishments
•  Goal Achievements
•  Going Above and Beyond

For more information on recognition programs, see our website at: RCB or call 800-929-9110.

Guidelines for Award Presenters

Posted by Curt Denevan: 
Do you have to make an award presentation and want some suggestions on how to make a positive impact?

I. Use the following suggestions to help you convey an appropriate message of recognition:

• Be personal; be yourself; be sincere.
• Everybody feels they've contributed something; given a little thought you can bring this out.
• What may seem like a chore can be a very big thing for the recipient; you can make it bigger!

II. Make it a positive, cheerful occasion that evokes a feeling of emotion and acceptance from the recipient:

• Pick a time that avoids unusual stress or time limitations. Be spontaneous.
• Do it in a place away from the operations of the job.
• Invite friends and associates who know the recipient well.
• Talk to the recipient in a personal way that's comfortable for you, yet shows an understanding of the recipients feelings. 

III. Try to include contributions to the immediate department goals such as:

• Suggestions employee made in improving department operation and performance.
• Extra time given to finish a job or keep on top of on-going workload.
• A good attitude that makes fellow workers feel like part of the team.

IV. Talk about things that have happened during the employee's years with the company such as:

• The Company's growth, new products, new equipment, new people.
• The individual's performance as related to skills developed, promotions earned, other awards received.
• Community activities, special events, or growth activities in the community.

V. Use information available within the Company:

• Personnel departments usually have company and community events information you may not have about the recipient.
• Fellow workers might know personal stories about the recipient. You can probably also think of a few ideas from your own personal relationship.
• Family or spouse are good sources of information to off the job interests and activities.

VI. Talk about the future of the individual and company (in a one on one presentation), and how they should continue together:

• Find out the employee's goals and ambitions.
• Talk about how the employee can contribute to company's future growth and development.
• Tell how the recipient can help with future department objectives.

For more information about corporate recognition programs, see the website: Corporate Recognition Programs.

Making an Effective Awards and Recognition Presentation

There are many occasions for honoring others, be it for sports, academic, sales achievement, for retirement, or embarking on job or a new career. Many award presentations fail because they do not do justice to the individual being honored. Some are too short or vague, and others are too long and boring.

When you are called upon to present an award or memento, it is your opportunity and duty to honor the person or persons being recognized. Proper preparation and planning will help you acknowledge the individual adequately and graciously. The following guidelines will make your awards presentation speech more effective and memorable:

1. Give praise that is appropriate to the occasion, but don’t be dishonest.
2. Be as specific as possible in explaining why the recipient is being honored by listing his other community service accomplishments, projects completed, and career highlights.
3. Demonstrate the true qualities of the recipient by making comments about what makes this individual unique or noteworthy. Ask friends and acquaintances for anecdotes or talents that should be noted.
4. To prepare your presentation seek information from those who know him or her and share the information in a straightforward and positive manner.

Most of all, make sure everyone has fun and walks away with a smile.

For more information, contact RCB Awards at 1-800-929-9110.

The Presentation of the Award: That Magic Moment!

Recognition – It’s a Powerful Tool!

Companies that have an employee recognition program in place have demonstrated that they know how powerful recognition can be as a leadership tool. It makes a statement to the employees about what is important to the business and what is valued by the leaders within the company. It is also one of the most effective ways to reinforce an organizations culture, support its objectives and retain top performers.

An effective recognition program achieves the following:

• Builds self-esteem

• Reinforces desired behaviors

• Helps create an atmosphere of appreciation and trust

• Promotes empowerment and involvement

• Creates loyalty to a company

While recognition is important, the way you choose to recognize an associate plays a key role in the overall success of your program as well.

PREPARING FOR THE MAGIC MOMENT

It’s easy to create a meaningful and memorable event for you and the individual being recognized. You can make the occasion special by following these few simple steps:

• Choose a location for the presentation

• Decide who will be present

• Prepare what you will say

Where will the Presentation take place?

Whether you are planning a formal or more casual presentation, the event is important and can be a powerful management tool toward developing increased commitment to the company’s vision and core values. You can recognize an associate at his or her work place, or, if desired, in a more formal setting such as a banquet hall. Whatever the setting, remember that this should be a special event for the associate and their peer group.

Who should be present?

Imagine training for long hours for a big race and then winning first place, only you aren’t allowed to tell anyone about your victory. Our achievements in life, no matter how small, are more meaningful to us when we share them with others. Keep this in mind when deciding who will be at the presentation. The event will have much more impact if the associate is recognized in front of his/her peers (and senior management and additional guests if a more formal presentation is planned). This generates excitement for others to also strive for the high goals of achievement and recognition.

What will the presenter say?

The most important thing to remember is that the presentation should be personal. Consider the following when preparing what you will say:

• Address the associate by name

• Research important information including years of service, accomplishments and contributions prior to the presentation

• Share a work related short story or anecdote if appropriate. However, avoid embarrassing jokes or other comments that may make the associate uncomfortable

• Communicate that it is an honor for you to have the opportunity to recognize him or her

• Congratulate the associate, say “thank you” and shake his or her hand.

Remember to make the presentation upbeat, fun and to the point. Your preparation will help make the event a memorable Magic Moment for all.