Do you know that episode of The Office, The Dundies, where the whole staff just doesn’t really look forward to the award ceremony, and only Michael does because he’s the one organizing it? Yeah, that is NOT what you want if you’re planning on having an award ceremony for your business.
When it comes to planning the perfect award ceremony, needless to say, there are a lot of considerations that go into it and just a lot of thought in general. But what truly matters the most is actually getting your employees involved.
You want them to get involved and be happy about this event—now that is absolutely the key! So, with all of that said, how can you get them hyped about it? An award ceremony simply isn’t an award ceremony if no one shows up. Well, here’s exactly what you need to know when it comes to hyping up your employees and getting them to go.
You Need to Set the Stage with Excitement
It’s going to be best to just go ahead and start talking about the award ceremony early and often. You’ll need to create a buzz by sharing sneak peeks of what’s to come. For example, you could look into creating a teaser about the venue, the entertainment, or a highlight of last year’s event to keep the anticipation building. But ideally, you should use all your communication channels – emails, Slack, bulletin boards, and team meetings. The more we talk about it, the more everyone will look forward to it.
Here;s a nice non passive-aggressive way to let people know: “Hey Team! Just a heads up – this year’s award ceremony is going to be bigger and better than ever. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!”
Just Highlight the Importance of It
Sometimes, people need a reminder of why these events matter. It’s not just about handing out incredible trophies that have people’s names engraved (granted, who doesn’t love those); it’s about recognizing the hard work and dedication of every single team member. It’s about coming together to celebrate successes and looking forward to future achievements.
Ideally, in the invitation, like the official email for it, you could put something like: “Our award ceremony is our way of saying thank you for your incredible work. It’s a night where we acknowledge the big wins, the small victories, and everything in between. Your presence makes it all the more special.” But you could maybe just directly send an email to those who you think would be more inclined not to make it. This would then be a nice nudge for them.
Personal Invitations and Leadership
So, this one is piggybacking on what was said above, it was mentioned that it could be a good idea to maybe reach out to people directly for a more personal approach and yes, this can actually help! With that said, a personal touch can go a long way. Encourage managers and team leaders to personally invite their team members to the ceremony. A quick, sincere conversation or a handwritten note can make employees feel valued and more likely to attend.
Share Success Stories
Is this the first time that the company is having an award ceremony? If not (as this is an annual event), then it might be a good idea to showcase some of the awards and what they represent. Ideally, sharing stories of past winners and how being recognized impacted them. This not only builds excitement but also helps employees see the value in the recognition.
Tease the Fun Elements
Who doesn’t love a bit of mystery and fun? Tease the special elements of the ceremony – the entertainment, the food, any surprise guests, or unique themes. But you’ll need to make it sound like the event of the year (because it is!). Here’s a fun little example that you could try during water cooler talks and coffee breaks: “I heard there might be a magician this year… and maybe even a karaoke battle. You’ll have to come to see for yourself!”
Create Some Friendly Competition
Seriously, a little healthy competition can be a great motivator. Why not encourage departments or teams to show up in full force? You can even have a prize for the team with the best attendance or the most spirited presence.
Offer Some Incentives
So, it’s not exactly ideal (because it means there’s something wrong with the company culture, but incentives like this can be a great way to encourage attendance. You might want to consider offering something special for those who RSVP early or for departments that show up in full force. It could be extra PTO, a team lunch, or a small gift.