RECOGNISING TALENT
Rewarding Achievements
Chris Daly
Q: What is the significance of Sri Lanka’s awards landscape from an international perspective?
A: Sri Lanka’s awards landscape plays a vital role in showcasing the nation’s culture, driving economic growth and strengthening international relations. By celebrating local talent and achievements, it helps foster a positive global image and highlights the country’s unique contributions to the world.
Q: What do you believe is the most important facet of an award – recognition, validation or motivation for continued excellence?
A: I believe that the initial recognition is validation of a job well done, though if I had to choose, I’d lean towards motivation for continued excellence.
While recognition and validation are also valuable, the ability of an award to inspire ongoing growth and push boundaries can have a lasting and far-reaching impact. It can create a cycle of excellence that benefits not only individuals but the organisations they represent.
Q: What role do awards play in recognising and motivating businesses and working people?
A: By highlighting, recognising and celebrating best practice, awards serve as a powerful tool for encouraging businesses to continually evolve and do better, and to help incentivise their employees to achieve higher levels of excellence and success.
Awards and accolades can also serve as an excellent team building opportunity, bringing everyone together to contribute their part toward a shared goal.
The awards ceremony itself becomes a chance to celebrate collective efforts; and even if a win isn’t secured, it can be a rewarding and enjoyable team outing that strengthens bonds and boosts morale.
Q: In your opinion, how do awards contribute to elevating standards and practices within organisations or institutions?
A: Awards act as powerful catalysts for positive change, driving organisations to do better, and elevate their standards and practices, while benchmarking themselves against the competition.
The process of entering for an award often involves adhering to rigorous evaluation criteria, which encourages organisations to critically assess their operations, identify areas for improvement and implement meaningful changes.
This combination of self-reflection and external validation fosters innovation, boosts employee morale, and enhances an organisation’s reputation within its industry and among stakeholders. Awards create an environment where excellence is not only recognised but also celebrated and valued.
By highlighting and rewarding outstanding efforts based on high standards and best practices, awards become a source of motivation for individuals and organisations alike. This recognition ultimately drives improved performance, sustained growth and long-term success for businesses.
Q: What steps should be taken to ensure that awards are more inclusive and representative of smaller or emerging businesses?
A: To ensure that awards are more inclusive and representative of smaller or emerging businesses, several key steps can be taken. These include assembling a diverse judging panel and increasing the number of categories that are specifically tailored to recognise the achievements of small or emerging businesses.
Actively promoting the awards through smaller local business associations, community networks and social media can also help reach a broader audience within this segment.
Given the financial pressures often faced by smaller businesses, offering financial assistance or sponsorship opportunities can make participation more accessible. This could include waiving entry fees, subsidising costs or covering travel expenses to attend ceremonies.
Such measures not only encourage greater participation but also foster a more inclusive and representative awards landscape.
