A Little Rant About Awards

The Work We Do Shapes Lives

I've been thinking a lot about awards recently. Perhaps it's because I've won a few over the years. Perhaps it's because I've seen the impact recognition can have on someone's confidence. Or perhaps it's because I've spent most of my working life supporting other people to achieve success and have seen first-hand just how much goes on behind the scenes that nobody ever sees.

Before I start, let's put something into perspective.

The average person working full-time between the ages of 25 and 65 will spend over 80,000 hours at work. Eighty thousand hours. When you stop and think about that number, it's staggering. Work consumes a huge proportion of our lives. It's where we spend our time, our energy, our focus and often a large part of our identity.

Which is why I believe recognition matters.

The Invisible Work

Throughout my career, I've held roles where much of the work happened quietly in the background.

As an Executive Assistant, I meticulously managed regional directors' diaries, inboxes and meetings. I sat in highly confidential discussions and supported senior leaders through challenges that most people never knew existed. I've heard things that shocked me. I've heard things that upset me. I've worked in environments where sensitivity, discretion and professionalism were absolutely critical.

Later, as a Virtual Assistant and business owner, my role evolved but the essence remained the same.

I found myself becoming the person who championed my clients from the rooftops. The person who celebrated their wins, often more enthusiastically than they did themselves. The person who believed in their potential from the moment I met them.

Sometimes I believed in people long before they believed in themselves.

I have helped clients launch businesses, secure opportunities, increase their visibility and overcome self-doubt. I've watched confidence grow. I've watched people achieve things they once thought were impossible.

And I know I'm not alone.

Many assistants, administrators, EAs, PAs, VAs and business support professionals do exactly the same thing every day.

We are often the glue holding things together.

The glue holding businesses together.

The glue holding teams together.

Sometimes, if we're being honest, the glue holding humans together.

We become trusted confidants. Problem solvers. Cheerleaders. Sounding boards. Occasionally therapists. Quite often friends.

Yet much of that work is invisible.

When Awards Don't Feel Fair

This is where my little rant begins.

Whilst I absolutely understand the purpose of business awards, I sometimes wonder whether certain award processes can unintentionally do more harm than good.

Take public voting, for example.

How can that ever truly be a level playing field?

If one business welcomes hundreds of customers through its doors every week and another operates with a small team serving a niche market, the outcome is often determined by audience size rather than excellence.

Then there's the emotional rollercoaster.

Being shortlisted and not making the final cut.

Making the final cut but not winning.

Watching someone else's name being called whilst your inner critic whispers that you'll never be as good as they are.

For people who already struggle with confidence or imposter syndrome, these experiences can be incredibly deflating.

I've spoken to countless business owners who have left award ceremonies feeling worse than when they arrived.

Not because they weren't exceptional.

Not because they weren't worthy.

Simply because someone else happened to win on the night.

The Cost of Recognition

Then there's the financial aspect.

Many awards require you to submit lengthy applications, attend interviews and then purchase tickets for ceremonies.

Sometimes those ceremonies are miles away from home.

Sometimes they involve hotel stays, travel expenses, new outfits and a significant investment of both time and money.

For small business owners, that can be a real stretch.

And let's be honest, many people feel they have to attend because they fear that if they don't show up, they stand little chance of winning.

I've seen people spend money they don't really have to sit in a room feeling anxious and hopeful, only to leave disappointed.

That doesn't sit particularly comfortably with me.

The Recognition Awards Idea

A few years ago, I had an idea. I wanted to create something completely different from the traditional business awards model. Not another business award. Not another public vote. Not another application process. Not another interview panel. Not another expensive ceremony.

I wanted to create Recognition Awards.

The concept was simple. Someone could nominate another person without them knowing. There would be no application to complete, no pitch to prepare, no public vote, no social media popularity contest and no pressure to campaign for support. It would simply be one person taking the time to explain why another human being had made a difference in their life.

Perhaps they'd shown extraordinary kindness. Perhaps they'd gone above and beyond to help somebody. Perhaps they'd supported someone through a difficult time. Perhaps they'd quietly changed somebody's life without ever expecting recognition for it.

The nominee wouldn't even know it was happening.

Then, out of the blue, they would receive a certificate explaining exactly why they had been nominated and exactly how they had made a difference.

Can you imagine that?

What a wonderful surprise that would be. What a powerful reminder that our actions matter and that the things we do for others often have a far greater impact than we ever realise.

The Ones That Matter Most 

The frustrating thing is that I never quite managed to get the idea off the ground.

If you've read my blog about trying to do it all, you'll understand why. Ideas are easy. Getting them off the ground is hard, especially when you're one person trying to juggle multiple businesses, projects, clients and responsibilities.

The idea never left me though. In fact, the more time passes, the more strongly I feel about it.

Because when I really think about the recognition that has meant the most to me throughout my career, it isn't necessarily the trophies or titles. It's the moments when somebody has taken the time to tell me specifically how I've helped them, how I've made a difference, how I've given them confidence or supported them through a challenge they didn't think they could overcome.

Those are the moments that stay with you.

Those are the moments that remind you why you do what you do.