The Art of Thoughtfully (and Humbly) Leveraging Company Awards

You work hard every day, and there are few things more exciting than being recognized for the efforts you or your organization contribute. It makes sense that you’d want to shout your award from the rooftop — however, you want to be careful to do that thoughtfully from a marketing standpoint.

Humility and connection can go a long way in spreading your news to the masses. You may want to consider telling your story in the following ways:

The work you do for people and the community

The great thing about business is that most of us do something with the intent to positively impact the lives of others. Leveraging an award you’ve received with the “why” behind it can be both compelling and eye-opening for those who are not familiar with you or your organization. This may be particularly compelling for younger generations that believe mission and social responsibility are the bedrock of businesses they choose to patronize.

The work you do through amazing people

Even the smallest organizations have someone they rely on to get things done. Maybe your company doesn’t have the most robust staff to highlight and thank, but it’s a morale booster to the few and mighty who have pitched in to help you grow. And don’t forget that there may be vendors, advisory boards, mentors or folks who are not on the payroll who have helped you achieve. Even a few social media tags can boost a sense of pride and get your message in front of those who may not have otherwise seen it.

The why behind your submission

I’ve been in marketing for most of my career, and I have a steadfast rule: Only submit the work you’re most proud of for an award. Getting an award for an award’s sake is equivalent it to the ninth-place ribbon Greg received in “Meet the Fockers” — it lacks credibility. Explaining the “why” of your submission, the pride you have for it and the problem it solved has the ring of authenticity that people want in our age of overcommunication.

No matter if you receive an award or not, the most important thing is to wake up to do your best each day. In the words of American virologist and medical researcher Jonas Salk, “The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”