Rhiannon Downie Hurst’s Post

Let's talk about awards. I'm involved in multiple events that involve awards, and I'm interested to hear what people have to say about their expectations. If you have a minute, please tell me your thoughts on one or all of these (or send me a DM if you'd prefer to keep your thoughts private): Should an award nomination cost money and, if you are okay with a fee, what's reasonable to you? What kind of an event do you expect to have tied to the presentation of the awards? Reception? Gala? What are your expectations for the award itself? Trophy? Plaque? Certificate? Do you still display the industry awards you have won, and if you do, how do you display them? I won't be quoting anyone here on anything. I'm just trying to do a little research courtesy of my colleagues here on LinkedIn.

What's stopping you from entering your event or your company for an award this season? You worked hard to produce a fantastic event. Now it’s time to get the recognition you deserve; you are ready to enter either the ACE Awards, which are more geared towards caterers, or the Gala Awards, which feature categories for all types of events and producers.   Winning an award, and even receiving a nomination, has myriad benefits: * Build team morale within your company and with your creative partners * A nomination and win are tantamount to a third-party endorsement * The write-ups can be repurposed for content for months to come * It looks great in all your promotional material But, for some reason, the deadline comes and goes and so does another year for your chance to win an award. Why? As someone who has written, and judged, many awards over the years, I've addressed some common questions and concerns you might have have about entering awards in this article published today in Catersource. https://lnkd.in/gZP8NZfQ #awards #benefitsofawards #eventprofs

I don’t usually question things too much, but there’s something I’ve been thinking about that I’d love to get some perspective on. And whilst I’m at it let me throw my disclaimer: I’m not discrediting any award(s)……So, we’ve all seen this recent rise in awards and recognitions, right? While it’s always nice to be acknowledged for hard work, I can’t shake the feeling that these awards are starting to feel a bit... off. Let me explain. It seems like a lot of these awards nowadays are becoming more about which company can sponsor the event, rather than who genuinely deserves to win. It’s like the more you sponsor, the bigger the chance you’ll walk away with the “Best of the Best” trophy. It’s almost as if some of these awards have turned into profit-making machines in disguise, rather than true merit-based recognition. Take, for example, that one time you see a company win "Best Customer Service" after being a top sponsor, even though everyone knows their customer service is questionable at best. Or when you notice that only those who paid for a table at the awards dinner are up for the top prizes. I mean, how does that work? And, honestly, why should we have to pay to be recognized for doing a great job? If it’s really based on merit, shouldn’t we be the ones getting the reward, not handing over cash for a plaque? Let’s not forget the kicker: you get nominated, don’t sponsor the event, and somehow—surprise, surprise—you fall just short of winning. 😂 But maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m missing something here. However, I do think it’s worth asking: when we celebrate excellence, shouldn’t it be for actual excellence, not for how much we’ve sponsored? What do you think?

🏆 𝗙𝗔𝗕 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: 𝟭 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦! Not sure if you should enter the awards? Here’s five reasons why you should: 𝟭. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Applying for the FAB Awards allows you to showcase your accomplishments over the past year. It’s a chance to share your success stories and inspire others in awarding and assessment. 𝟮. 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: These awards are not just about personal and organisation accolades; they are about being recognised and celebrated by your peers, experts, and leaders in the industry. 𝟯. 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: Winning an award can significantly boost your organisation’s reputation and credibility. It’s a testament to your commitment to excellence. 𝟰. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: Your achievements can serve as a beacon of inspiration for others in the education and skills sector, encouraging them to strive for greatness. 𝟱. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆: Showcase your achievements on your website, in promotional materials and press releases. Join us at the Marriott Hotel in Leicester on the 25th of November 2024, as we come together to recognise excellence and celebrate achievements that have left a significant impact. Find out more and enter the awards here: https://lnkd.in/e2S_4-cZ

AND ANOTHER AWARD GOES TO… Opening up my LinkedIn feed this morning and I was greeted with more of what seems like endless self-acclaim for winning some industry award of which there are now apparently thousands. Okay – I get it. LinkedIn is now a platform for narcissism, self-aggrandizement, back slapping and just general “Look at me how great I and my team are” posts. But the whole award thing has gotten out of hand. Because business has fallen into the trap of feeling compelled to compete and give folks the chance for industry awards, the whole industry awards business has become expert at tapping this vein – creating award after award, and an endless tier of prizes within each award category to feed a greedy industry that serves no true benefit. Ahh, but “awards make us feel good” you’d argue. They say who we are in the vast competitive pecking order. Well, I’d argue – “Uh don’t we all work for the collective goal of driving business – ours or the clients?” “Isn’t the actual reward just seeking SATISFACTION – creatively, emotionally and intellectually – ACHIEVED WITH A JOB DONE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES?” “And then when done often enough – and measurably enough – that we see the financial rewards through promotions, raises, bonuses (clients renewing contracts?) et al?” There’s a term called “scarcity value” that applies here. Think of awards like pies. The first one you dig into is great. But the more and more you have of them, the less and less you derive joy from each, therefore diminishing the value (but likely increasing your stomach ache!). Personally, I’d rather receive or dole out the occasional and sincerely offered “Great job [NAME HERE]” than almost anything else. But then I grew up with one boss especially stingy with compliments – but each rare pronouncement making me feel like I could walk on water. So how about it people? Less sharing of awards on this platform (if you want to keep paying for the privilege of displaying more shiny statues go ahead), more meaningfully recognizing rare and true achievement. Oh, and if you enjoyed this post, please no awards or bouquets – a simple “like” is all the affirmation I need. #TOOMANYAWARDS #SUCCESSISITSOWNREWARD

OPEN INVITATION to ALL 2024 Award Winners from ANY Association/Group! If you competed in any award program this year from any group here is an invitation to you. This is our 20th year running the only truly global awards program for the contact center and CX industry. We have a reputation built on INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY and ZERO BIAS - yes we don't allow sponsors to compete (totally unfair to everyone). - we don't publicise judges before judging has been done (too easy for some to be influenced). - we do things very differently and this leads to a fair, unbiased awards program that enhances our industry and those participating. We set many standards that others copy but we believe there is no other award program with so much integrity and we invite you to find out for yourself. Participate in the 2025 awards which are NOW OPEN and I will personally guarantee to refund your entry fees if you feel at the end of the process its not fair, unbiased and you don't benefit from the learning you will get from other entrants, networking and benchmarking opportunities to enhance your personal career and your company performance. We know we have probably the fairest award program in the World - that’s why every year we attract 80 nations best to compete and more and more call these the ultimate awards - like the Olympics of the Contact Center World. If you want to set up a call to discuss this and our awards, please use this link https://lnkd.in/gH42aNGT So, if you read this and you compete in other awards, consider the change - awards NOW OPEN at https://lnkd.in/gNCJ6EER Good luck 

What does your awards cabinet look like? Entering awards can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Having an award on your company mantle can do wonders for attracting new clients and talented people for your team. Read our guide on the benefits of entering awards, tips for a solid submission and a handy calendar for planning your year ahead. 🔗 Link in the comments.

A lot of nominations went out today (check all inboxes, including junk), so I thought it would be a good time to outline the process for those who may not be 100% clear. Nominations close on 13th October. You can nominate yourself or someone else, and all nominations are anonymous. Nominate here: https://lnkd.in/gb8YWA7p If you wish to proceed to the next round and be considered for an award, you'll need to apply via this link: https://lnkd.in/e77EgtEf, select your category, and answer all five questions. Each question is worth 20 points, so it's important not to leave any unanswered. Finalists will be announced before 13th November. If you're nominated, there's no obligation to proceed. In the past, some people have informed us that they don’t wish to participate, and that’s entirely their choice. However, we will still notify them of the nomination because we believe it's special that someone took the time to recognise them. We want to acknowledge not just the nominee but also the person who made the effort to nominate them. So, everyone who is nominated will be informed, but only those who complete the full application will be eligible to win. If you're unable to attend the gala, you can arrange for a representative or someone already attending to accept the award on your behalf if you're announced as the winner. Please note, we won’t be able to post out awards. Finally, tickets are selling fast! The early bird rate is available for anyone booking before 1st October. Grab your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gfEeYuvd - It's always a sell-out event and an absolutely fun-filled night!

I was once nominated for a prestigious award, but after further investigation, it was expected that I would pay a fee to the organisers of the event in order to be part of it. The business world is inundated with an exessive number of awards, and nominations, each claiming to celebrate corporate excellence and honor top-ranked individuals. While some of these events serve as valuable platforms for networking and knowledge exchange, the sheer volume and often repetitive nature of these award ceremonies have led to a sense of oversaturation and diluted significance. The excessive hype surrounding these events can create a culture of superficial recognition, where merit may sometimes be overshadowed by popularity or the ability to self-promote. How do you distinguish between meaningful opportunities for recognition and those driven primarily by commercial interests?

Have you got an awards strategy? Most companies I know are very reactive when applying for awards within their industry. They are good to have, but companies do not consider them until someone approaches them to submit for a particular award. If they are lucky, they do end up winning that award. But most of the time, the submission does not result in a win. However, most companies have great stories that can be used to win these awards. Are you looking to identify the fantastic stories that your business has that can be used to win awards? Reach out to me, and let's find those fantastic stories you can put forward for award nominations. Let's prepare your awards strategy. https://lnkd.in/gTUjNkzk