Why do we do Awards evenings? Often, as employees, we go along to these functions with a fair degree of trepidation, particularly if we have a spouse in tow. The short answer to this question is that we arrange award functions and submit ourselves to same in order to, within a select group, recognize the achievements of others. If these achievements are within a field a large group of people are interested and knowledgeable about, for example, ‘Best Actor Awards’. Then the whole function may well be opened out to as many people as are interested via the medium of television. The need for groups of people to recognize individual or subgroup excellence is deeply ingrained in our psyche. This is a very good predisposition as the modern workplace does not lend itself to allowing this to happen organically. At work we are often under tight time pressures, this results, often, in not having the presence of mind to give praise when praise is due.
The role of an awards evening, usually held in a stylish function room is to acknowledge these successes. Obviously this is a formalized version of what should, in a healthy environment, be happening naturally. We are all well versed in the importance of encouraging children through the process of setting them up to succeed and then, when they do, praising them for the successes. Adults are in this way not dissimilar to their children. They need to feel that they are making progress in whatever field it is they are endeavoring in. The only way in which we can see progress, particularly when we are immersed in a large project, is to identify specific sub goals along the way to full project completion. The trick to this is as an employer, or if self employed, then as an individual, to recognize these sub goals. This takes preplanning and prior knowledge. In the case of the lone individual with little to no prior knowledge, the planning will comprise researching, and in some cases, paying for the expertise to obtain a project plan. Good project plans will signpost sub goals. These sub goals will be met when certain predefined criteria have been fulfilled.
Clearly the treat for success must fit the bill. Within a work situation i.e. when you have other colleagues, praise will often be sufficient. When you are self employed these sub goals should not be ignored. Obviously a trip to New York for a shopping weekend is going a bit overboard, but a treat, like a few hours off and a coffee in your favourite café well you do deserve it so treat your own success! Remember, the recognition of success will pay dividends as we all thrive on success and it will impact positively on the ultimate success on the project.
When a project is finally completed it’s time to book the function room. Award functions fulfill more than one objective. The function is ostensibly held as recognition from employers of achievement of employees. This function can also be used to raise the corporate profile of the company with the clever use of marketing and public relations. Hiring a classy function room will also have the knock on effect of raising all your employees’ moral. A well chosen function room will also allow for an good opportunity for team building.