TRANSPARENT OUTREACH
Business first
Minoli Wickramasinghe
Q: ‘There are awards and awards,’ so to say. How would you differentiate the awards that corporates win?
A: Authentic awards are those that you attain without the need for influence, based on public recognition of your genuine merit, hard work and competencies. Such accolades instil a true sense of pride, signifying that your company has been rightfully recognised as the best in its field, free of any biases.
In contrast, some awards are biased and shouldn’t exist in the first place, as they undermine an industry’s best performers and are demotivating.
Q: Could you explain how important awards are in contributing to an organisation’s credibility and reputation – both locally and internationally?
A: Awards alone don’t contribute to an organisation’s credibility and reputation – it’s a matter of how a business conducts itself on a daily basis, and its professionalism, competence, morals and ethics – these factors place it above competitors, thereby achieving a worthy goal. An award is merely public recognition of this achievement.
Q: Does the recognition that comes from garnering awards and accolades lead to increased sales or business – and if so, how?
A: Awards of significance undeniably make an impact on financial performance, instilling confidence in customers that they are engaging with the best; and companies that value their reputation are committed to safeguarding it in every way.
Yes, a strong reputation results in increased leads or sales, positively affecting income generation. Additionally, word-of-mouth recommendations can wield significant influence on the company’s bottom line.
Q: How should award winning organisations aim to maintain the high standards that led to their recognition?
A: Each accolade signifies that we expect higher standards of professionalism and competency among our staff, as well as an unwavering commitment to impeccable morals, ethics and a drive to attain higher organisational objectives.
Q: How do you measure the long-term impact of winning awards on an organisation’s financial performance?
A: The long-term impact is likely to be positive because it reflects that you have aligned your financial model and achieved these accolades through effective management of the business’ ups and downs, establishing yourself as the best in the field.
Q: In what ways do awards impact a company’s or brand’s credentials?
A: I believe that recognition from others signifying your company as being the best in its field will undoubtedly enhance your brand.
Winning awards that matter and associating them with your brand will elevate the company’s reputation among peers.
Q: How should award winners manage the expectations that come with being an award winning organisation – both internally and externally?
A: Internally, it’s imperative to uphold high standards, and continually enhance the quality of services and products through increased efficiency, professionalism and innovation.
Externally, it’s crucial to provide topnotch services and products at reasonable values, all the while adhering to an ethical business model, and displaying unwavering competence and professionalism.
Q:Would you have any insights into how transparency and ethics should be pursued in rankings that lead to awards…?
A: There should be transparency to ensure a fair playing field in rankings that lead to awards. This can be achieved by establishing clear objectives and criteria for qualifying for an award, which should be transparent.
It’s essential to have an expert panel of judges comprising organisations and individuals of high repute, who are unbiased and can offer ethical assessments.
When it comes to ethics, it’s crucial to consider the impact that rankings may have on the organisations being ranked. Rankings can significantly affect a corporate’s reputation, and influence the decisions of customers, investors and other stakeholders. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that the rankings are based on ethical principles and don’t unfairly penalise or reward companies.
