Let’s say that one day, your super busy boss walks in and asks you for a favor. They need to give out awards to all the top employees in the company but have no time to plan for it. Now, it’s up to you to choose each award for a list of coworkers you interact with every day. This could seem like a huge obligation. Honestly, it’s kind of a huge responsibility. Finding the right gifts and awards to match each recipient’s personality is a herculean task, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it. This is an opportunity to learn more about the process of selecting awards. Now, let’s dive in!
Paying Attention to Detail
Whether you or your boss wants to emphasize on company culture or personal attributes of each employee, attention to detail is key. Make sure that your award is reflecting that unique office camaraderie. If your workspace consists of television show fanatics or a shared love for the local baseball team, definitely insert it into the award. For example: making announcements that the “Dundee Award goes to…” if you’re all fans of The Office. Another example is using inside jokes to be engraved onto the awards themselves. If you’re awarding a team, find awards or trophies that cater to their personalities without singling anybody out. Engraved pens or personalized clocks are great corporate gifts that can be individually personalized with witty captions or tongue-in-cheek nicknames while also retaining a sense of synergy. If you think you need a bit of help from others, involving employees who are new to the company may offer a fresh perspective.
Focus on the Occasion
Why exactly is your organization celebrating the top employees? Is this an intimate awards ceremony? Questions like these are important to answer to find out the best direction for your corporate gifts. The nature of the event informs the award just as much the occasion does. If this is a small event meant to celebrate the top board executives on the verge of retirement, think of a premium commemorative silver tray that can be engraved with signatures of co-workers. Intimate gifts with a strong personal touch stand out, especially when the reason to celebrate feels cumulative and special.
The Hostess with the Mostest
Congratulations! You finally picked out all the awards for the annual office party or banquet for your organization. Now, your boss has also asked you to be the host of the night. Well, since you’re the one who picked out the awards, added a personal note and know exactly who’s getting awarded… Why not? Be sure to spend time practicing your awards presentation speech to impress all the top executives and board of directors. Depending on your company culture, you can host a formal ceremony or a laid-back party. For the formal party, create a list of what’s expected for dinner and a dress code. For the latter, get some fun decorations from your local discount store and set up a photo booth with fun props. Annual corporate parties shouldn’t have to be boring! A final reminder: have fun and enjoy the event.
