I am lucky enough to be the chair and assistant manager – or, as I like to call it, Head of Cones – of our village football club, Elston United. It has been a good season for the men’s team, who finished as runners-up in the league and gained promotion to Division 2 of the Nottinghamshire Senior League for next season.
Next week we host our end-of-season awards evening. The awards include top scorer, players’ player and manager’s player. It also includes a ‘champagne moment’ award and clubman of the year – an award for the squad member who best demonstrates the values of the club.
Having the whole squad, their partners, as well as the club’s volunteers and supporters in the same room means that we can celebrate together. It’s an evening that I’m really looking forward to.
Awards can be trite, but they can also be extremely meaningful when they’re given in a spirit of integrity and celebration. A McKinsey survey found that up to 55% of employee engagement is driven by non-financial recognition.
What do you do to recognise, celebrate and publicly thank and appreciate the people in your team, your department and your organisation?
Off The Record: Celebration by Kool & The Gang
Celebration! Let’s all celebrate and have a good time,
Celebration! We’re gonna celebrate and have a good time,
It’s time to come together,
It’s up to you, what’s your pleasure?