3 Common Mistakes in Award Nominations and How to Avoid Them
Navigating the nuances of award nominations can be daunting, but with advice directly from seasoned judges, this article demystifies the process. It peels back the curtain on 3 common pitfalls and provides actionable strategies drawn from industry experts to elevate submissions. From articulating achievements to incorporating client testimonials, learn how to make each nomination stand out.
- Highlight Specific Achievements
- Share Clear Examples
- Use Client Perspective
Highlight Specific Achievements
When nominating yourself or someone else, the most frequent error I observe is the omission of clear, compelling instances that demonstrate the nominee's merit. Many nominations are based on generic appreciation or ambiguous words that fail to highlight the nominee's accomplishments or special contributions. My recommendation is to concentrate on developing an engaging story by highlighting specific achievements, quantifiable results, and character traits that fit the award requirements. For instance, rather than just stating, "They're a great team leader," describe how their leadership stimulated creativity in a crucial project or increased team performance by 20%. Being specific improves the nomination's chances of success and helps it stand out.
Share Clear Examples
The biggest mistake I see is people being too vague. They'll write something like, "I worked really hard" or "They're a great team player," but that doesn't show why they deserve recognition. It's like trying to sell a car by saying, "It has wheels," true, but not convincing!
Instead, share a specific story or example. For instance, "They organized a fundraiser that raised $10,000 in just two weeks" paints a clear picture. Focus on the impact they made and how it stood out.
Use Client Perspective
One of the most common mistakes seen in self-nominations or for a company the nominator is very familiar with, is writing too much from the perspective of the nominee. For example, nominations often include successes of what the company has accomplished versus framing these achievements from the perspective of the groups they have helped. To be truly impactful, it is better to have specific success metrics that reflect the value to the client. Rather than focusing on number of services provided, projects completed, etc. focus more on the positive end result your products or service were able to achieve for your client. To avoid this, practice writing nominations from the perspective of a client. If possible, conduct a casual interview with clients who have had a positive experience with your brand to see what aspects of your partnership were most valuable and helped to overcome specific challenges. Try to determine and specific success metrics you can include as these can help bolster award nominations, case studies, and future content.
