An Olympic Recognition Program That Works
(REWARD AT 3 LEVELS — BRONZE — SILVER — GOLD)
Some Key Concepts
- Select 1-2 key outcomes you want, based on your Strategic Plan, such as lower costs, improved customer service, etc. Reward results and achievement, not ideas or suggestions.
- The key program nomination characteristics include:
- Anyone can nominate anyone else or any team, including themselves.
- Nominations are for anyone or any team who has actually achieved an outcome desired above.
- Ideas and proposals are not rewarded; achieving actual results are rewarded (i.e. save $11.00, receiving a customer service thank you, etc.)
- Publicize this program widely. Set up a simple one-page form on colored paper to fill out. Make the form widely distributed and available.
- Hold large group meetings on a regular basis (quarterly?) with everyone eligible in attendance. If the organization is spread out, hold regional meetings and possibly one big annual meeting. It is best to make this meeting a quarterly business meeting with the recognition of winners as the main attraction. Some other business topics might include:
- Discussion of Key Success Factors or outcome business results.
- A guest speaker on a key topic, such as one of your key strategies or core values.
- Discussion of 1-2 key core strategies and their importance and priorities.
- Celebration of successes—social time such as a buffet lunch, end of day nonalcoholic happy hour, etc.
- Set up a Peer Review Committee to review the submissions for documented outcomes. The goal is to get as many “winners” as possible; not to create winners and losers (multiple winners-compete against yourself only). Keep the results hidden until the meeting itself.
- The basic concept here is the “Olympic Games”; bronze, silver and gold winners. Bronze is anyone who wins on any quarter meeting. Silver is all the big winners. And Gold is reserved for the top 3-5 biggest winners. Do not single out one big final winner!