You don’t get nervous about putting on an award ceremony—that part is fairly straightforward. What many organizers are worried about is keeping their team entertained and making the event memorable and fun. After all, the last thing you want is for the team to view the event as just another mandatory work meeting. There’s an easy way to solve this. Instead of cookie-cutter awards at a fancy restaurant where everyone is required to dress to the nines, give high-quality custom awards in a more casual setting.
At a low-key event, your employees can relax and enjoy the festivities without the pressure of being at a formal company event. If you focus on a leisurely environment and awards that mean something to your employees, you can turn your award ceremony into an anticipated affair your team won’t soon forget. Here are a few tips to help.
Create Fun Award Categories for Your Custom Plaques
One of the quickest ways to add some levity and excitement to your award ceremony is to have a little fun with the awards. Not every plaque and trophy must be awarded to the salesperson with the highest average sale price or the marketer with the most email clicks. Instead, you can add entertaining categories to recognize other achievements on the team. With these new custom plaques and awards, you can also recognize top performers at the same time.
For example, an award like “The Best Cup of Coffee” can be given to the team member who brings the most energy and excitement into the office every day. You could even get a trophy in the shape of a coffee cup for an added level of personalization. Another award like the “Zen Master” should go to the team member who takes everything in stride. They are like a rock in the storm for the office, and you can always count on them to rise to any challenge. These are just a couple of examples but don’t be afraid to get creative. Every organization is different, and you might value different types of achievements.
Choose a Casual Setting
You’d think that people would pay more attention while dressed up for a fancy dinner, but that can sometimes backfire. After a long day at work, most of your employees probably want some time to relax. If they can kick back and enjoy your ceremony, they will be able to focus on the awards instead of imagining how nice it will be to go home and take off their dress shoes. A few factors in your venue contribute to a relaxed atmosphere.
First, you need a location that can fit everyone comfortably. Nobody wants to be bumping elbows all night. Secondly, there shouldn’t be a stage super far away from the tables or chairs. You want to present custom awards to friends and colleagues on the same level, not to an audience from above. Lastly, you want a restaurant or dining hall that isn’t too fancy. You still want to treat your employees, but don’t make them feel out of place from their routine. Now, everyone can feel natural and enjoy the ceremony.
Give Out Creative, High-Quality Custom Awards
The awards themselves are almost as important as the ceremony. A low-key ceremony is made memorable by the quality of the awards you give out. After all, these awards are meant to be displayed on bookshelves, desks, and mantels. Your recipients will look at their crystal awards and remember the entertaining night they had, telling jokes with coworkers and comparing trophies.
Make sure to mix it up too. Don’t give out the same award over and over again. Whether you are switching to a different prize every year or giving each person a unique trophy, you have to keep things fresh to make it a memorable night. You can find awards in different materials, from acrylic to glass, and even customize them in various ways to make them stand out.
Make It All About Your Employees
In the end, this award ceremony should be about your employees and awarding them for a job well done. Your low-key ceremony can be enough to stick out in their mind as a benefit to working for your company. They should feel like they mean something to you and the organization as a whole.
The best custom plaques and awards can help you connect with your team on a more personal level. You don’t want to give out a trophy with a generic “Best Salesperson” statement. You want a crystal award with their name, title, and accomplishment all etched onto the surface. Or you can consider ordering a custom award with a more personal design. Whether it is their favorite colors, or a small image depicting their favorite hobbies, there are small touches that you can add to every award to make your employees feel like they are an integral part of the team.
Don’t Forget Good Food and Good Music
This one is easy in theory but more difficult in practice. Once you are done handing out custom awards and celebrating your team members and their achievements, you should help them enjoy the night even more with food and music they will actually enjoy. One of the best ways to find the right choices is to send out surveys while planning the party. That way, you can better understand what your team would like to eat and listen to.
Don’t get food that is too messy or hard to eat. Sometimes simple meals are better. Also, have options so everyone can choose their favorite dinner or dessert. You want to create a fun atmosphere with the music but not be too distracting or loud. Choose music that people can talk over during dinner. Then, think about transitioning to something more fun for people to enjoy and dance to as the night goes on.
Now, you have the perfect recipe for a memorable awards night that is still low-key and relaxing.
About FineAwards
There’s something special about receiving custom awards for your hard work. If you want to provide this feeling to your employees, look no further than FineAwards. Their stunning selection of glass awards, crystal awards, and acrylic awards are the perfect gifts for all of your top-performing employees. If you can dream it, FineAwards can bring it to life. Their industry-leading team brings decades of experience to the table and can help you create a custom award sure to wow your employees. Whether you are celebrating career achievements, yearly goals, or recognizing the office morale booster, there is a premium award option for everyone on your list. You can choose from one of FineAwards’ stock designs or work with their team of artists to create something truly unique.
FineAwards can help make your casual awards ceremony special at https://www.fineawards.com/
