1. Say it with style - Include your award winner’s name, achievement, the date of the award occasion and any other important information about the accomplishment on the award certificate.

2. Design is everything - Be creative! Choose border paper or award certificate paper to match the award occasion — be it fun and colorful or elegant and serious.

3. Have an authority endorse it - Ask the company vice president or president to sign the award certificate along with the employee’s manager and co-workers.

4. Present it properly - Don’t leave an award certificate with smeared ink in the employee’s mailbox. Choose a quality certificate paper, place it in a certificate folder or frame it… then present it personally. Elegant presentation underscores your appreciation and your recipient’s importance.

5. Dignify the award occasion - Present the  award certificate at a company function or meeting. If your presentation will be one-on-one, make it special by treating your award winner to lunch.

Priceless Pointer
Some people may feel uncertain or awkward creating award certificates if they’re not used to doing it. Make it easy for them by taking a few minutes — in a meeting or one-on-one — to help them gain familiarity with any software, certificate paper or certificate materials you have assembled for your program. And, be sure to give them a reward for taking on this new task!