Read about one woman’s journey of self-nomination for an industry award. And why we should all embrace it more!
When was the last time you won an award for something that you achieved? When was the last time you nominated yourself for some sort of praise? If the answer to either of these is never, it’s time to fix that.
I am a big believer in praise. It comes from being a millennial I think. We’re the so called Me Me Me generation as we were brought up on trophies and praise awards. However, this is a lie. I’m a believer in praise because of how it makes me, and other people, feel.
Getting Recognition For Your Achievements
Also, praise is not vanity and self-belief is not arrogance. It is a desire to be recognised for the achievements that you’ve worked hard for. I’m not suggesting anyone here go and nominate themselves for the Nobel Peace Prize or put a call in to the Academy Awards. However, what I am suggesting is putting your name down for an industry award or for an online award that is relevant to you and your work.
For example, I recently nominated myself for an award in the industry that I work in which is publishing. The award was for women achieving great things in this industry. I am a woman. I am in publishing.
When I decided to nominate myself, I was single-handedly running the marketing and publicity department of one of the fastest growing start-up publishers in the country, possibly even the world.
Being Proud Of What You’ve Achieved
I was feeling proud of my achievements and also confident in myself. The award itself offered a self-nomination tab so it wasn’t as though I was filling out a form in third person.
I didn’t see any reason on holding back discussing my achievements in my own voice after struggling through mental health issues, family issues and general life struggles during the time that I achieved them. I felt proud of myself and I wanted to celebrate that.
References Needed
However, when I was asked to produce two references for my self-nomination by the awards team, I received two very different responses from the people that I asked to write them.
One of them, a woman, was only too pleased to help. She cheered me on and wrote a wonderful and heartfelt reference about my achievements over that year.
The other, a man, made fun of me for nominating myself. He gave me the reference that he had first written about me when I had just joined the company. And obviously I had not achieved any of the things I mentioned in my statement.
These reactions made me feel two very different things at the same time: one was pride and the other was embarrassment. I shouldn’t have been feeling the latter when all I was doing was stepping forward and claiming my victories as my own.
What I also felt was confused. These were two of my respected colleagues giving me two very different reactions to my self-nomination. Since both of them had been working with me for the majority of my time at our place of work, I could only assume that the reason they acted differently was because of their gender.
It’s Time To Speak Up
Women don’t speak up enough about their achievements and nominate themselves for awards that they deserve. There are many common theories as to why women don’t self-nominate for recognition: they’re too polite, they’re too modest, they’re too anxious, they’ll be seen as a fool.
But who knows if any of these are true if we don’t nominate ourselves to find out.
Was I Shortlisted?
And since we’re on the topic of ‘looking like a fool’ I’d like to make the point that I didn’t win the award I nominated myself for. I wasn’t even shortlisted.
The awards team sent me a lovely response saying I was very talented and had a bright future. However, there were other nominees who had achieved much more than I had in that time and who were thought to be more deserving of the award. And I agree.
Learning later about the winner, a young woman who had set up her own diverse and awe-inspiring publishing house in her twenties, she makes my achievements seem small in comparison but no less important.
You Are Worthy Of Nomination
No matter what anyone says, or who wins these awards, my achievements were still worthy of a nomination. Even if it was a self-nomination, it doesn’t make my achievements any less important or praiseworthy to me. And it doesn’t make my nomination any less valid and that is what, as women, we need to remember.
Post by Ellie Pitcher.
