Writing a successful award submission is like a yoga session
Silvia Van den Bruel
Marketing & BD Director at Hausfeld | Believes small things can make a big impact | Wants to make a difference one step at a time | An #equity and #inclusion fan(atic) | Everyone should make time to mentor
A few months ago, someone asked me for tips on writing a successful award submission. Today, they told me they were shortlisted. Re-reading what I wrote back then, I compared writing submissions to an effective yoga session (what planet was I on!?). But ignoring the cheesy analogy, some of this may be helpful.
Really read the requirements and make sure you understand what they ask for; think of the different aspects of your business that could be used in answer = mediation and stretching in preparation, circle arms as wide as possible.
Then focus on what fundamentally answers their questions, but in such a way that you quantify the reasons why you deserve to be nominated in terms of what makes you different. Use your USPs. Your submission needs to be different from that of other contenders, while the judges ‘get’ your firm as a person = exercising the muscles.
Do not waste words: if you can make a point in 20 words, force yourself to do it in 12 = conserve energy, every movement counts.
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Work with a core group of people to prepare the submission. The more people you work with, the more (different) views, the more your strong points will get diluted. I work with mostly one dedicated partner, and we then run the final version past others. At that stage not a lot of changes are being made = small classes, or even a 1-2-1 are much more effective.
I always start replying to the questions by including everything I can think of. Then in a second stage, I decide what argumentation is vital to leave in and how I can condense it (because of the word limit – this need a lot thought) = you don’t need 3 mats, 4 towels and 5 outfits; it is quality over quantity.
Re the supporting material. Don’t cram anything new into the supporting material. The content should really enhance the points that are being made in your submission, so don’t make new argumentation – judges really hate that = at the end of the class, you don’t want a sneaky new pose.
If you put your mind to it, everyone can do it! That is yoga for you. Namaste!