This
Delbert cartoon Adams raises a very appropriate discussion regarding employee
recognition awards. It is a debate that
has been going on for years and years, and no doubt will continue for years and
years.
Why? Because if you were to draw a straight line
continuum to depict the awards industry, advertising specialty items would be on
one end of the spectrum and strategic full service employee incentive and
recognition programs that included research, training, communications,
feedback, awards and analysis would be at the other.
The
debate arises anywhere along that line where the advertising specialist sales
folks think they carry the type of products that are appropriate as
awards. And they could be right, some of
their items could be appropriate. But
unfortunately most don’t, and actually if you prefer to give your award winner
a choice of what they can receive, many would choose another award. But often clients don’t really want to give a
choice. They’ve chosen the item because
it fits their need to communicate something; the theme, the company, the
outcomes, the goals etc.
So,
when considering awards for your incentive or recognition program, think about
this cartoon. Will the items you choose
eventually be thrown away and considered as something with little or no
value? Will they be relegated to the
bottom desk drawer or the closet? What
are you trying to accomplish; motivate increased performance or simply
communicate something.
When
your award backfires and your employees see relatively little value in it, it
can do more harm than good. Remember,
the award categories termed advertising specialties do just that. They advertise something.
For
more information on Ultimate Choice Inc.’s products or services or other white
papers please contact us at Ultimatechoiceinfo@cox.net
