Comments on: Undue recognition: Why the Birmingham Leadership Awards promote divisiveness

By: Wade on Birmingham » BREAKING: Birmingham Leadership Award winners announced

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:24:32 +0000

[...] hours=12 if (minutes Sphere: Related Content Also see:Announcing the Birmingham Leadership AwardsUndue recognition: Why the Birmingham Leadership Awards promote divisivenessGreen Eyeshade Awards: Second to oneWade on September 2007Heads up: The Birmingham [...]

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:43:25 +0000

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This post was mentioned on Twitter by WadeOnTweets: Should Bham’s young professionals nominate themselves for service awards? Let’s hear from you: http://bit.ly/3C0cQI...

By: Wade

Wade — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:07:38 +0000

Why not identify successful entrepreneurs and new businesses and pair them with those just starting out? That would seem to be far more valuable to the business community as a whole. My friend Brian has been doing just that with Birmingham Entrepreneur, but I suspect he can't do it alone.

By: Kate Darden

Kate Darden — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:21 +0000

Wade, I wasn’t up to speed on the history of the round table and how the BBA came to promote the awards. If they acted alone, then of course they can’t claim collaboration.

I’m in a BBA Entreprenuerial round table and nominations forms have been out for Entreprenuer of the Year. Yes another award. Apparently there hasn’t been overwhelming interest and the event might not happen.

By: Wade

Wade — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:03:33 +0000

Kate, I agree with your take. Too many awards, and yet those truly deserving slip by almost unnoticed. I know a handful of people who do the work year round, not for the recognition, but because it must be done.

Where I disagree is with how you characterize the Business Alliance’s move. They could work with the Roundtable to foster opportunities for everyone: members, investors, businesses and others. Instead, they come up with an idea, foist it upon the group and run with it.

How is that collaborative?

By: Kate Darden

Kate Darden — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:32:52 +0000

Our sound bite culture is taking its cue from the entertainment industry, aka Award-a-Palooza. However, you can’t fault the BBA. They are simply trying to provide opportunities for their investors to shine. I would be much more apt to be interested in a Leadership Profiles initiative, rather than an awards program. Profiles could be featured throughout the year, rather than for one event and one story. My advertising background tells me that won’t happen.
There are so many truly selfless people in our community that lead by example–and not just from board seats. They lead in anonymity, they lead in jobs done for love instead of money. We may have to look a little harder to identify them, because they probably don’t have time for nomination forms.

By: Wade

Wade — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:21:53 +0000

I should point out that I’ve send in plenty of award applications for journalism contests. But the judges look at the work itself (photo, story, headline, design) and pick winners. It doesn’t matter how you describe it — there’s no fooling the judges (I’ve judged a few journo contests, too).

You can nominate someone in the Birmingham Leadership Awards. But the nominee then receives the same application form and must decide whether to enter.

Thanks for the comment, tadaw.

By: tadaw

tadaw — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:07:48 +0000

i thought that the honor of an award was for your peers to recognize you for your work. nominating yourself seems a bit self-indulgent and narcissistic. let another group that thinks that yps are deserving do it.