Importance of Awards as a Means of Recognition and Motivation

The Academy Awards or the BAFTA are star-studded, highly publicized events where top stars receive top awards for top performances. However, there are people in every walk of life who do more than is expected and contribute in some way or the other. They too deserve recognition.

Recognition can take many forms. Some parsimonious employers may reward employees with a “thank you, job-well done” and that’s it. The employee may feel a temporary glow at being praised but that soon passes. A more concrete form of appreciation works wonders to boost morale and keep employees motivated. It can be a gift or a memento. The value may be low in monetary terms but as a form of showing recognition, it may be highly prized by the recipient.

There are other benefits for employers when they publicly acknowledge such high performers: others are motivated to do better and the performance of the organization improves. The company may go on to win accolades and contributing staff members receive an ego boost. Further, if a company is known to acknowledge contributions of its staff, it can attract the right talent and further improve its performance.

It is not just employees who deserve recognition for their work. Brilliant, high performing students who are suitably recognized and rewarded stay on track and go on to become star performers in their chosen profession. There is a deep-rooted wish within each individual to be praised and rewarded. Incentivizing students through such recognition methods encourages them keep on doing better in life. It does help in a nation’s growth.

Recognition of performance can start in the family and the young can be cultivated to do better when their performance is acknowledged in concrete form through a gift or some such token. Why only children? Parents deserve recognition from children for having made sacrifices. Couples can and do appreciate each other with a gesture. It is what keeps fire of human emotions glow bright.

Sports performance is another area where winners receive trophies and display them with pride. It marks an individual and a team as special when they have something to show for their efforts.

Long after the event fades from memory and one has retired, it is these awards of recognition that remain to warm the hearts of the winners and help them look back on life with a glow of satisfaction.