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Business award categories can seem overwhelming, especially at first. Many organizations offer dozens of competitions for businesses and professionals every year. How can you tell which contests are the right ones to enter?
The benefits of participating in recognition programs
Just participating in awards programs can make businesses better. This isn’t just a theory. Researchers have shown that when management teams leverage competitions to institute improvement frameworks, employees report that their whole enterprise levels up.
Studies have also associated winning an award with improved profitability. In addition, they show that earning business excellence awards creates a positive company culture, boosting employee engagement and employee morale. Nominating people for an award is a great way to acknowledge and appreciate their contributions, achievements, and years of service.
Another study has found that “quality award winners outperformed the benchmarks on almost every performance measure,” including share price, sales, and other productivity indicators.
Why are accolades such a fast track to success? Getting the approval of third-party independent judges shows that a business doesn’t just talk the talk. There is now actual evidence to believe it walks the proverbial walk. When a business gets recognized for excellence, consumers start to believe the brand’s marketing and sales messages.
Understanding award categories
Many organizations, from local chambers of commerce to international trade associations, offer annual awards programs. There are competitions for nearly every department of a business, from customer service and human resources to entrepreneur of the year. Other awards celebrate teamwork or great workplaces.
For instance, consider the Stevie Awards, which hosts the American Business Awards every year. This competition has dozens of categories and subcategories that honor individuals and organizations whose exceptional results inspire others.
This is just one example. Do a quick Google search, and you will find many more. Given this plethora of choices, it’s important to find the right contests to enter.
Finding the right award titles and employee awards
There are three main ways to find the best contests to enter for your business.
First and foremost, think about your target audience. Which awards would matter most to them? Those are the ones to shoot for. Even if you might not have the ability to take the title this year, simply trying will start pointing you toward the organizational improvements you need to make. Over time, your business will become stronger and stronger, and you’ll have a better and better chance of taking the prize.
Second, think about your business as a whole. What does it do best? For instance, if you have glowing reviews, then you might consider entering competitions that focus on customer satisfaction. If you take pride in the sustainability of your operations, then look into prizes related to corporate social responsibility.
Think about your company’s workforce, including individual departments and top performers. Where do they excel? While internal employee recognition awards do a great job of acknowledging people within the organization, external awards programs offer another effective way to elevate loyal employees. This sort of meaningful recognition can help employees feel a sense of belonging, which retains top talent and keeps them engaged at work. The effects can also ripple out to the entire team, promoting a positive organizational culture.
For instance, if your marketing team launched a new campaign that is reaping unexpectedly great results, then consider submitting them for honors within their particular profession. Whatever kind of skilled employees your business might have, the business community undoubtedly offers tournaments or other recognition frameworks that enable you to showcase their talents.
After you’ve found the right competitions to enter, it’s time to put your application together.
How to submit nominations for your business and team members
When assembling your application, the most important thing to understand is that applying for awards is work. Set aside adequate time and resources for this initiative. Try not to add this project to a team member’s workload without ensuring they have enough free time to dedicate to it. If they feel stressed and overloaded, then they could come to resent this additional work. In some cases, their employee loyalty might even decrease. This would be the opposite of the motivational effect that business leaders should aim for.
In addition, pay close attention to the calendar. These competitions are normally open for submissions for only a few weeks or months each year. Importantly, many also offer reduced fees for “early birds.” For this reason, you’ll want to have your materials and be ready to go right when the application period opens. That said, a few contests accept new submissions at all times.
Finally, don’t shirk on the details. Evaluators are looking for concrete evidence that your business or individual staff members are as good as you say. Back up your assertions with proof. This can be customer reviews, testimonials, sales numbers, or other numerical data. Well-told stories can also be a great way to move the judges and persuade them to vote in your favor.
Boost your small business with employee recognition and business honors
For some, recognizing employees, yourself, and your business may seem arrogant at first. However, the only businesses that win awards are those that enter.
Employees within your organization deserve acknowledgment for their hard work and skill. Make 2025 the year that you nominate your business for prestigious awards!
Also read:
From Unsung to Unstoppable: Small Business Awards Make Community Leaders
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