How To Write Your Colleague A Nice Award Nomination
When I was in my early 20s, all I could think about was being on Forbes 30 Under 30. While that didn’t happen, I have had the opportunity to help influential co-workers and clients win people-based awards by writing and editing their submissions. And, plot twist: I even got to do this internally *at Forbes* for two years!
Before that and before going off on my own, I spent the early days of my career supporting SapientNitro (SapientRazorfish/Publicis.Sapient/Razorfish/not sure today) in their awards program, so I’ve had a fair share of submissions — that have gone on to win. Today, I’m sharing my insights with you so you can make someone you work with feel like a winner.
5 Elements of a Winning People-Based Award Submission
Write so that all you do is win, win, win no matter what.
Answer the questions. This seems straightforward, but I can’t tell you how often this is missed. (For anyone else who’s worked on awards, I’m sure you’re either laughing or nodding your head to this.) Once you’ve written your response, reread it and ask yourself whether it actually answers the prompt. If not, don’t despair! You can likely cut whatever goes off on a tangent and use it in another portion.
Use anecdotes. Tell a story about a time someone displayed uncanny leadership when their boss delivered their baby six weeks early, and they stepped into cover their role with grace and ease. Or explain how they single-handedly won over a client thinking of going to another vendor. Both will will go much further than saying someone is a "great leader who rises to the challenge." You can say nice things about anyone, but only some have the stories.
Include numbers. Storytelling gets jurors intrigued, and quantitative metrics seal the deal. Think of ways to quantify their success. Led to increased revenue? Grew the team? Stabilized team retention? Client retention? Brought in more leads than anyone since the company’s founding? You don’t have to have a lot of numbers, but you’ll want to have some. (And think of the results, not how many years they’ve been in the business.)
Be genuine. There’s a lot of BS in awards (and in life), but do try to cut it from your submission and stick to the truth. Think about how this person has personally impacted you and those around you. Be honest without being hyperbolic. You want them to win on their own merits, not overblown metrics.
Keep it concise. Be mindful about the word count for each prompt, but beyond that, be as direct as you can with your words. Jurors go through many submissions, so you don’t want them glossing over yours because it starts with your colleague or client’s side hustle in high school. Make more impact with fewer words (but also don’t be lazy…you know what I mean).
Oh, and do yourself a favor and start early! You never know what a submission will ask you once you’re in the system. It’s better to go in early, assess all of the questions, and then take your time to gather what you need for the submission. (Sometimes, this means being sneaky and figuring out how to get a copy of your colleague or client’s resume without raising suspicion.)
Wellness check
It feels good to be recognized. If the opportunity for an award arises, do the recipient a favor and take ownership of the submission without involving them. Data from Workhuman shows that 41% of employees want to be recognized by a peer, and 37% want to be recognized by their managers. Plus, if they win, the surprise will feel that much sweeter.
What A Winning Award Nomination Looks Like
Here’s a peek from one winning award submission I did for Antoinette Beauchamp, one of the *most amazing clients* I’ve had the pleasure of working with. (Seriously, if you’re looking for a coach, leave this blog post and check her out.) In 2022, she won Gold at The Stevie Awards, which was so well-deserved (and she went on to win AGAIN in 2023.)
Moving Forward
Think of the last time someone you work with recognized you. How did that feel? To be seen? To be appreciated? To be valued? Now imagine giving that feeling to someone else and helping their career at the same time. That’s the benefit of submitting a people-based award. And if it comes at a cost, well, there’s a script to send to marketing or HR, whoever owns your budget. I’m happy to help you write it.
Unsure where to submit? I’ve got that too. Just email me (sonya@nurturednarratives.com), and we can chat about how I can best support you in recognizing those close to you.
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