When Solstice Inc. faced dwindling participation in its annual awards program, HR partnered with the communications team and implemented a new nomination workflow using Nominee.app. The result: a 62% increase in nominations, higher cross-team awareness, and measurable morale gains.
Situation
Solstice is a 650-person software company with distributed teams across three continents. Historically, nominations were collected via email and spreadsheets — a process that was time-consuming to manage and opaque to employees. Participation tapered off as deadlines were missed and forms were inconsistent.
Goals
- Increase nomination participation by 40% year-over-year.
- Improve diversity of nominees across departments.
- Reduce administrative time spent managing submissions by 70%.
Approach
The team took a three-pronged approach:
- Implement a centralized nomination system (Nominee.app) with structured forms and mobile support.
- Design a communication campaign to raise awareness and explain the new process.
- Introduce anonymous judging for objective categories and provide judges with rubrics.
Execution details
The rollout focused on clarity and convenience. The nomination form required: nominee name, team, category, and a 300-word evidence statement. Optional attachments were allowed for customer impact. The communications plan included a launch email, Slack channel pins, and short videos demonstrating how to nominate from mobile devices. Managers were encouraged to nominate peers and join a judge panel.
Outcomes
After the first cycle using Nominee.app, Solstice reported:
- A 62% increase in total nominations (from 210 to 340).
- Participating teams increased from 14 to 21 (50% growth in cross-team representation).
- Admin time reduced from ~30 hours of coordination to ~8 hours (a 73% reduction).
What drove the results
Several factors contributed:
- Lower friction: Mobile-friendly forms and Slack reminders made it easier to nominate on the go.
- Clear guidance: Example nominations and a rubric raised submission quality.
- Transparency: Publishing timelines and announcing shortlists kept momentum high.
Lessons learned
Solstice also identified areas to refine. Judges requested better context for cross-functional roles, and some teams wanted more category flexibility next year. Solstice plans to add training for nominators and a category review session before the next cycle.
Key takeaways for your organization
If you're considering a similar change, start by mapping your current manual steps and identify high-friction points. Use structured forms, integrate where your people already work (Slack, Teams), and invest in a short communications plan that explains the "why" and the "how."
Final note
Recognition programs are living processes. A platform like Nominee.app can be the operational backbone, but the cultural work — storytelling, leadership endorsement, and continuous improvement — makes the difference between a one-off event and an enduring practice that fosters recognition across the organization.
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