All Recognition is Local

Thomas "Tip" O'Neill was famous for saying (among other things) that "All politics is local."  

My interpretation of that is even though our elected representatives are looking at big picture things (when not hiking in the mountains or forgetting about income from off-shore condos) they still need to understand their responsibilities (or should I say jobs) depend on the issues facing those in the districts and areas that vote for them.  

That thinking needs to be applied to recognition as well.

Think Global… Recognize Local

I’ve been lucky enough to have been quoted in a few industry trade mags and had my name in USA Today a couple of times.  I would call that “national” recognition.  Nice but…the first thing I did when those events occurred was to bring it local.

Yep – I showed my wife, my kids, I put it on our family website to share with my brothers and sisters.

In other words – the national (or bigger audience) recognition was nice but it really didn’t mean as much until it was with my smaller – more intimate audience.  My brother had the same experience when he earned an award from his employer.  Sure it was on their home page and he was written up in the company newsletter – but he too shared it with the family and posted on our family web site.  Again – bringing the big to the little.

Most Recognition is Still National

That made me think about recognition and the way most companies do it.  Here’s the process in a nutshell…

1. Announce program via web site and snail mail or email.
    
2. Provide updates via email, web site and other company communication channel to the throughout the term of the program (recognition programs are usually annual but many traditional incentive programs may be shorter but follow a similar process.)
    
3. Announce the “winners” (you know I hate that term – these are earners not winners) on the company web site, in an employee meeting, via email and snail mail.
    
4. Give a plaque, certificate, award during business hours (or maybe if you work at a really good company at a department lunch at Chili’s.)
    
5. Done.  Lather. Rinse.  Repeat.

All this recognition occurs outside the “local” circle of the individual’s friends and family.  It’s all “work” – that’s what I see as national.

Why Not Make it More Local?

What if you took some time to help make it local?  Here’s some thought starters that may (should) increase the impact of your recognition program (and other incentive applications as well.)

• Take out an ad in the local paper for each award earner highlighting their efforts and their accomplishments.
   
• Connect via social media sites they belong to (with permission of course.)
   
• Create a social media badge that can be shared on facebook, linkedin, blogs.
   
• Have sign placed in their yard like folks do when babies are born – or the flamingo thing… that’s always a nice touch.
   
• Buy some billboard time near the award earners home or even their top client – let the rest of their local world know what’s going on.
   
• Invite the family, neighbors, friends to the luncheon at Chili’s so they can participate in the recognition.

Some of these ideas may require more coordination with the recipient to make sure you’re not stepping over some boundaries.  

And don't think this is for employee recognition only – think of your channel partners and how they would love to get a little recognition in their home town.  I'm sure they would appreciate a little free advertising.

Bring recognition into the circle that matters most to the recipient. 

Their circle – not yours.

I don’t think any of the national stuff I’ve been attached to would have meant anything if my local circle didn’t know about it – or that my circle’s circle didn’t know about.

All recognition is Local – you can quote me on that.