Business Achievement Awards

Guide to Promotional Plaques and Awards

Recognition can motivate employees to improve and excel
By Jackie Larson

Promotional plaques and other awards in the workplace can tell employees their work is noticed and valued. More than just a pat on the back or money that's quickly spent, a seemingly simple piece of engraved wood or gift certificate can provide a visual reminder to the recipient and those around them that you're paying attention.

Plaques, trophies, certificates and having your work praised in a mass email are all effective. Non-cash gifts with a personal touch can make a more profound, long-lasting and less expensive impact.

Here are three reasons to use awards to increase motivation for excellence and build a team:

1. Rewarding employees inspires strong performance and competitiveness in battling absenteeism and workplace accidents. It also can promote customer service and sales growth.
2. Providing incentives for setting and reaching goals keeps everyone focused on the bottom line and builds your business.
3. Expensive turnover is reduced by recognizing employees as individuals and teams.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Set reachable yet challenging goals and benchmarks for achievement Set and share a reachable goal that challenges employees, and budget for rewarding them. Encourage ownership by dangling an incentive 'carrot' or award. This can be as simple as giving someone an engraved nameplate for their desk once they successfully reach their 90-day probation.

I recommend:  Download a demo of MindSolve's Goal Alignment and Accountability program.

Schedule an annual (or seasonal, or quarterly) recognition event You may already have an annual tradition, such as a Christmas party. But try establishing a new tradition, such as a quarterly cookout. A regularly scheduled event gives people something to look forward to and allows employees to see their peers acknowledged.

I recommend:  Numerous vendors offer promotional plaques and awards. A few to consider include: Awards Zone, Artistic Awards, Quick Trophy, Martin Awards, McAeiro, MGA Graphics and Delp's Awards.

Find different categories for excellence Go outside the box to recognize unique achievements. For example, if spirit and attitude are what differentiate support or customer service employees, establish a 'That's the Spirit Award.'

I recommend:  Go to World Class Awards to order gold metal pins engraved with phrases like Attitude, Quality, Cut Above, Customer Service Excellence in Action, Record Sales or MVP. Gimmees.com offers tote bags, pens and imprinted items that can serve as a badge of honor for the employee carrying them.

Enlist the help of professionals If you have a large budget (or lack manpower to devote to the project), use a company to help manage incentive programs.

I recommend:  Select-Your-Gift can create a program that allows employees to choose from an album of awards. Get a menu of companies to choose from at Employee Incentive.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Don't constantly reward the same people.
• Make sure rewards are based on actual contribution, or they won't meet your objectives.
• Celebrate the team as a whole.
• Get workers to nominate their peers. This can empower workers and give them a stake in the process.
• If you praise a team, name them. Encourage individual effort with individualized attention whenever possible.