Have you been nominated for an award? Stand out during the ceremony with these tips.
An award nomination is one of the most significant achievements in your professional life, recognizing your dedication and hard work. An award ceremony is perfect for networking, building valuable connections, and shining through.
To make the best out of this opportunity, let’s get started!
Chapters
1. Practice a warm, welcoming attitude
If you’re an extrovert, this is not a big challenge. However, if you’re an introvert, it’s time to practice how you carry yourself. Remember that 55% of your communication depends on your body language.
Look in the mirror, identify your best smile, and practice that. Until the award ceremony occurs, try to look others in the eye when communicating.
Avoid slouching, fidgeting, and rubbing your body in public. Doing so will make you look insecure. Also, don’t show defensive postures like crossing your arms or legs or facing away from the person you’re talking to.
2. Choose an appropriate dress
Your outfit completely depends on the award event. If it’s a “business” event, wear anything you’d wear to a meeting. A black suit and formal shoes work great.
If it’s a “cocktail” event, wear a dress that ends just below the knee if you’re a woman. On the other hand, if you’re a man, wear a suit but without a tie.
For “formal” events, women must wear longer gowns that end at the calves, and men must wear a complete suit along with the tie.
For a “black tie” event, make sure your chosen outfit is completely formal. Men can choose between normal suits and tuxedos, while women can wear full—or cocktail-length dresses or even jumpsuits.
Remember to accessorize properly with a watch for everyone, polished and comfortable shoes/heels, and sleek jewelry for women.
3. Plan to network
Check out the list of people attending the event. Notice if there are some influential people that you can connect with.
Once you get the names, look these people up on LinkedIn or other professional social media platforms. Identify which of them you want to connect with.
Know about their interests and study those. This will ensure you always have some common ground and let the conversation build organically.
Prepare deep questions about their interests or professional background to show interest in them. Learn whether they are involved in any important ongoing project. If yes, show interest in it.
4. Write a unique acceptance speech
Many people get their acceptance speeches written by wordsmiths, which can be pretty expensive. Some people use generic acceptance speeches from online resources, which can make them seem dull.
Some even try to get speeches written by AI, such as ChatGPT. However, those are passive, long, and boring.
Instead, take inspiration from online resources but brew something you mean. Make sure you let your authentic and positive side shine through the speech.
Express gratitude to people who genuinely contributed to your growth. Include a phrase of appreciation to other nominees, winners, organizers, sponsors, and judges.
5. Be proactive when you reach the venue
Once you reach the venue, spot the people you need to connect with. Introduce yourself and eagerly communicate.
Invest in metal digital business cards to stand out more during the event. Toward the end of the conversation, tap your card on their phone and let them be amazed by your card’s fresh technology and shine!
You must also ask for the other person’s business card to network effectively.
6. Be focused during the event
When the event begins, avoid the urge to converse with anyone. Staying present and engaged during the ceremony will make you seem more professional and impressive. If you try to make small talk with others in between, people on stage will feel disrespected.
Moreover, stay away from all sorts of distractions during the event. Keep your phone silent and place it facing down on a table if you keep it out.
7. Engage in social media
Post updates about the scenes from the gathering. Take selfies and tag others to connect with them on social media. Add relevant hashtags and tag sponsors and organizers.
Check the social media accounts of other attendees, nominees, and winners. Connect with them and engage with their post from the event.
If you have permission, you can also livestream with other attendees during the intervals and socializing events. You can also share highlights in real time and let your online audience engage.
8. Follow up post ceremony
After the event, follow up with organizers, sponsors, attendees, winners, and new connections. Send a customized “Thank you” message via email or social media to share your appreciation for their time, support, and knowledge.
Let them know you’d like to stay connected and hope to collaborate. Moreover, if you connect on social media, engage with their posts about the day.
Conclusion
With these basic steps, you will stand out and make a great impression. So, prepare to show your best side now!
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