This document discusses how organizations can use national performance awards like the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to drive excellence. It outlines 5 ways the awards can be used: as a framework for improvement, to communicate goals and results, to guide an organization's journey, to learn from other award winners, and to improve financial performance. National performance awards recognize role models and share best practices. Organizations do not need to win an award to benefit from using the criteria as a guide. Previous studies found Baldrige Award winners experienced significant job and revenue growth compared to industry averages.