Fiona Dowling’s Post

Let's talk about awards. I'm involved in multiple events that involve awards, and I'm interested to hear what people have to say about their expectations. If you have a minute, please tell me your thoughts on one or all of these (or send me a DM if you'd prefer to keep your thoughts private): Should an award nomination cost money and, if you are okay with a fee, what's reasonable to you? What kind of an event do you expect to have tied to the presentation of the awards? Reception? Gala? What are your expectations for the award itself? Trophy? Plaque? Certificate? Do you still display the industry awards you have won, and if you do, how do you display them? I won't be quoting anyone here on anything. I'm just trying to do a little research courtesy of my colleagues here on LinkedIn.

What’s an award worth these days? In the age of participation trophies and endless accolade inflation, it seems like everyone has a shiny statue to show off. But let’s be honest, do these awards truly represent excellence, or are they just another checkbox in the race for recognition? Don’t get me wrong, being acknowledged feels great, but when every other post is about yet another ‘industry award,’ it makes you wonder about the real value behind these honors. Are they driving genuine innovation and setting industry standards, or simply boosting egos and marketing campaigns? Maybe it’s time we shift our focus from collecting accolades to creating real impact. After all, true success isn’t measured by the number of trophies on your shelf, but by the difference you make and the legacy you leave behind. #IndustryThoughts #RealImpact #BeyondAwards

6 Things to Consider When Creating an Award for Your Event or Conference. From who you want to recognize to how you want them to feel—and what the award says about your brand—David Moritz shares all. He's the man behind some of the most recognizable trophies in the world. https://bit.ly/48RZXgV #NaifProductions #EventProfs #MeetingProfs

Ahh the mind monkeys 🐒🐒🐒 The energy sappers, creativity sponges and the MAIN thing to hold people back when it comes to entering, accepting and winning awards. BUT, I wanted to put your mind at ease... these are the 3 things you DON'T have to worry about when entering awards: 🐒 "Comparisonitus"- so easy to get caught up in. But in the world of awards, it's not about how you stack up against others; it's about showcasing YOUR unique achievements. 🐒 Being big-headed/blowing our own trumpet. When it comes to awards, it's time to shine a spotlight on your accomplishments. You're not being big-headed; you're letting the world know about your hard-earned success and about how many people you've helped. 🐒 Being judged. Ok this bit has to happen with the judges-but they're not there to criticise! They're there to recognise, they're champions in celebrating your achievements. And whenever I've sat in an awards ceremony- there is nothing but warmth and support in the room. Recognise which 🐒 is yours and try to work on overcoming it! I want you to be able to embrace the awards journey with confidence and pride. (and I want you to win 🤩) I have a free strategy masterclass in November, I'd love for you to join. It's a great step to battling these mind monkeys. Comment monkey and I'll send you the link.

Today, I had the privilege of attending KML's Top 30 Under 30 Summit. Thank you The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto and Sam for giving me and my colleagues this opportunity. And congratulations to Aaron for the well-deserved award! We're so proud of you! 🎉 I arrived already expecting to learn, but the panel sessions far exceeded my expectations. I'm excited to share my key takeaways: 📝"Diversity" extends beyond race, age, and gender orientation to include learning abilities. Most people who work in FOH are experiential learners, retaining information better through hands-on experience. Training should be tailored accordingly, rather than relying solely on PowerPoint slides or written materials. 📝Encourage every associate to collaborate and contribute to changes; give them a sense of purpose. 📝When hiring, shift the focus from "Will they stay?" to "How do we retain them?"; what we should be looking for, especially in the service industry, is Authenticity. 📝Going Green— This shouldn't mean taking away amenities or putting the burden on the guests in any way, it means offering an alternative. 📝Pre-Shifts— the hallmark of service excellence; setting the mood for associates and keeping them informed impacts guest's experiences more than you think.

Day 1 done and dusted for our Consult Annual conference. Some insightful words and views from the credible lineup of guest speakers. Gala dinner this evening followed by tomorrow's lineup of key note speakers and industry stalwarts... #consultconference2023 #gobeyondbest #letsjourneytogether #consult #consultdurbannorth #financialplanning #financialwellness

Many award organizers are losing credibility because they don't know what they're doing. This problem is becoming more common. One big issue is how they categorize people. It's confusing when someone with over 20 years of experience is labeled as "fast rising" while someone with less than five years in the industry is called the "best." This approach ignores the achievements of seasoned professionals and gives awards to less experienced individuals. It's also disrespectful to place industry legends in the same category as their mentees. This diminishes the value of the legends' contributions. Such decisions show that organizers often don't understand the fields they are trying to honor. These mistakes usually happen because organizers have selfish motives and don't care enough about the industries. They create categories they don't understand, just to make their event seem bigger. This leads to undeserved awards and disappointment among audiences and professionals. Award organizers should aim for higher standards. They don't need to include categories they know nothing about. Instead, they should focus on areas where they can truly assess and honor talent. This would help restore their credibility and ensure that deserving people get recognized. In short, many award organizers are hurting their own reputation by making poor decisions. To regain trust, they need to categorize correctly, make informed choices, and genuinely appreciate the fields they aim to celebrate.

As we approach the awards season, Gráinne McGarvey talks about the value of entering business awards. With her extensive experience helping companies across Ireland and the UK secure awards, Grainne knows there’s a real skill in getting it right. Having an objective, outside perspective can make all the difference in giving judges exactly what they’re looking for. Here are her top 5 reasons to get involved https://lnkd.in/eyaW4Td2

🌟 Ready to launch your own awards program but don't quite know where to start? 🌟 Whether you've spotted a gap in industry recognition, seeking new events to boost your revenues, drive innovation, or support a cause, our latest article has got you covered! Learn how to define objectives, select a niche and assemble expert judges! https://hubs.ly/Q02lt6Ql0 #eventprofs #eventtech #awards #eventnews

🏆 𝗙𝗔𝗕 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: 𝟭 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦! Not sure if you should enter the awards? Here’s five reasons why you should: 𝟭. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Applying for the FAB Awards allows you to showcase your accomplishments over the past year. It’s a chance to share your success stories and inspire others in awarding and assessment. 𝟮. 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: These awards are not just about personal and organisation accolades; they are about being recognised and celebrated by your peers, experts, and leaders in the industry. 𝟯. 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲: Winning an award can significantly boost your organisation’s reputation and credibility. It’s a testament to your commitment to excellence. 𝟰. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: Your achievements can serve as a beacon of inspiration for others in the education and skills sector, encouraging them to strive for greatness. 𝟱. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆: Showcase your achievements on your website, in promotional materials and press releases. Join us at the Marriott Hotel in Leicester on the 25th of November 2024, as we come together to recognise excellence and celebrate achievements that have left a significant impact. Find out more and enter the awards here: https://lnkd.in/e2S_4-cZ