Recognition Criteria

Clients generally ask me about the criteria they need to define for the most premium Recognition program they run. Is there a way to define the criteria in a 100% objective manner, so that everyone is clear on why someone gets an award and there is no controversy over the award winners?

The answer is “NO” in most situations – You cannot remove the subjectivity fully, unless it is a data based program such as a Sales Quota achievement award (even here, there is some subjectivity in defining the quota in the first place).
The better approach may be to use data points to create a short-list of possible awardees (nominees) and then use a subjective mechanism to determine who should get the award. The subjective mechanism could be everyone in the Leadership Team/Recognition Panel saying “YES”, with even one “NO” being used as a veto. Alternately, if the voting group is large, then a percentage cut-off can be used (80% or more need to say “YES”).