There is nothing better than getting the opportunity to stand in judgement of other people’s work. All kidding aside, I am SO proud to be chosen as a judge for the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards for the 2^nd year in a row. I had a blast last year and it is truly inspiring to see the great work that people in large and small organizations, across all industries, are implementing to create a culture of learning and improvement.

My experience as a judge reminded me about the value of putting yourself out there and submitting your work for peer review and assessment. It’s a brave move and the payoff can be significant in several ways. It is not a simple pat on the back or an ego boost – it is actually much more than that. See below for solid reasons to get out there and submit your work for an industry award.

• Benchmarking – the process of applying for a business award will force you to look at your business and compare your work to your competitors. This exercise will help you think about ways to innovate and improve your company and your programs.
• Credibility – Being short-listed, nominated and/or winning an award creates an instant 3^rd party endorsement for your business. It is a seal of approval from an external, credible source and a sign of quality for potential customers, suppliers and competitors.
• Motivation – Awards recognize the hard work and achievements of your business and all of your employees, so winning can boost morale and improve motivation. Everyone can take pride in the achievement of the award and it’s a great excuse to hold a celebratory event to make sure everyone gets the recognition they deserve.
• Marketing – Winning an award can open doors to winning new business and breaking into new markets. Don’t let your humility get in the way of leveraging the award in all your marketing and public relations materials, and social media activity. You’ll see how an award can improve your networking opportunities by raising your profile in your industry.

No matter what size your business is, you can submit it for a business award. A quick online search will reveal, local, national and industry-specific awards to meet your needs. So don’t be shy – take the time to submit your work for the recognition it deserves!