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Dear OpenWater: This is My First Time Managing an Awards Program. What do I Need to Know?

Being new to the awards industry and managing your first awards program can be intimidating. How are you going to get everything done? What are common mistakes you should keep an eye out for? Where do you even start?

Don’t worry, in this month’s Dear OpenWater we tackle some of those big questions to start every new awards manager off on the right track.

Dear OpenWater –

This is my first time planning and managing an awards program. What are some big things I should keep in mind as I begin planning the upcoming cycle?

Sincerely,

Novice Project Manager

Dear Novice Project Manager –

Welcome to the awards industry!

Not to worry, I’ve been in your shoes before! And if I were able to give my past-self advice, these are the tips that I would give that would really have made a difference:

1. Have goals and objectives beyond increasing number of submissions/nominations.

Your awards program is about more than just receiving submissions/nominations and it’s important not to get completely caught up in that. Sit down with your team (and committee if applicable) and list the goals and objectives that you wish to accomplish with your awards program. Not only will this help you focus on the bigger goals of your program, you’ll also have greater opportunity for success because you will have a clear idea of what you’re working towards.

2. Track and measure.

It’s all about that data! Once you have your goals and objectives, figure out how you will track and measure your progress. It will be difficult at the end of the program to measure your performance if you weren’t tracking the data that you need. If you can’t track it, you can’t measure it.

Remember: analyzing the data from your awards cycle is one of the best ways to evaluate your performance and find ways to improve for next year.

3. Be ready for anything.

Anything can happen during your program! I’ve had to figure out how to get entries from Washington, D.C. to New York for a live judging event in the midst of a snow storm. I’ve also had to figure out how to find another judge when one of my judges was unfortunately hit by a car two nights before our live judging. When I say anything can happen, anything can really happen.

So when the unexpected happens, don’t panic. Take the situation in and reel in all of your resources to best address and resolve the situation.

Hope that helps! Let us know how your program goes and if you have any more questions!

Sincerely,

Got questions about your awards program? Just ask us!

Theresa Delgado

Theresa is our resident awards guru. She managed the Greeting Card Association's LOUIE Awards before joining us here at OpenWater. She brings first hand knowledge and experience in successfully managing and expanding awards programs.

4 Common Mistakes Awards Programs Make [SlideShare]

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