Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days – A Checklist
Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days – A Checklist
Nearly every month hosts at least one, if not more, recognition period of time (Activity Week, Social Work Month, Administrative Professionals Day). Someone at the organization is responsible for ensuring these days don’t go by unnoticed, and some sort of celebration occurs. Sometimes, recognition activities fall to the manager of the department, and when added to other responsibilities, this can be a source of stress despite the happy cause. This post is a simple checklist for celebrating awareness times (insert length of time here). A few reminders can support the experienced director as well as the new manager and anyone in between with the mission of coordinating awareness activities. The list is divided into tasks that should be completed before the recognition time (month, week, or day), during the time period, and following the time.
Also, make sure to read our blog post that goes along with this checklist about National Activity Professional Week!
Before Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days
- Compile the stats
- Who is in the department?
- What is the total (or average) years of experience among team members?
- Identify some interesting or unique numbers—i.e. how many activities were held the prior year, how many meals are served a month, how many RNs are in the department, etc.
- Create a recognition board of some sort
- Utilize company communication boards to post the stats
- Use social media as appropriate
- Ensure all managers know what recognition is upcoming and when
- Talk to the department manager and team members to be sure recognition activities are appropriate and respectful
- Review the budget for recognition
- Does it include money for gifts? A department lunch or dinner?
- Write a personal thank you note to each team member (if it is a large department, enlist other leaders to make this happen)
During the Celebration
- Post your recognition tool as a way to kick off the month/week/day
- Make an announcement of the department being recognized to stakeholders
- Notify staff
- Communicate to residents
- Inform board members
- Tell family members
- Personally acknowledge all or as many team members as possible
- If within the budget, give each team member a special gift or token of appreciation
- If within the budget, organize a special group event of some sort free of work constraints
- Distribute personal thank you notes/cards
- Take pictures of team members and post as appropriate
After Celebrating Awareness Months, Weeks, and Days
- Wrap up the time period with a final acknowledgment of the department and expression of gratitude for their individual and collective service
- Make notes on what activities were held, budget impact, and success of each activity (simply put, how did your recognition go over?)
- Maintain a file for each department recognition each year
Final Thoughts: Small Acts of Appreciation
One of my favorite ideas for hosting successful awareness/recognition months is to create a basic form for each staff member to complete. This form asks simple questions of each partner to help create personalized, motivating rewards, and recognition programs. Examples of questions include:
- What is your favorite store? Restaurant?
- What do you like to read? Favorite author?
- What makes you feel appreciated? (this is a good place to offer suggestions, such as: monetary bonuses, personal thank you from boss, gift cards, other)
- What are you most proud of in your work?
- What do you collect?
- Do you like to celebrate events individually or with your team?
Keeping a record of individual responses to questions such as these can not only help assemble a meaningful recognition week, but it can also help develop impactful incentive programs throughout the year. All too often, we assume it’s the big events that matter most. But to many people, small acts of appreciation mean more than steak dinners; and knowing the difference can create stronger relationships, better work environments, and a happier workforce.
