What value do you gain from entering the IABC Gold Quill Awards, even if you don't win? Insights from regular GQ evaluator Kristen Sukalac, Accredited Business Communicator, into the benefits of entering: what you'll learn, what you'll practice and how you can raise your visibilty. She also demystifies the process for entering and shares tips on increasing your chances of winning by thinking of the evaluators as your audience. The webinar was hosted by IABC France on 10 October 2014. The Early Bird (discounted) deadline is 12 November 2014 and the final deadline for entries is 7 January 2014.

1. The why & how of IABC’s Gold Quill Awards
Presented by
Kristen Sukalac
10 October 2014

2. Global awards program to recognize and foster excellence in business and organizational communication

3. Get better at making the business case
Photo: iStock

4. Diagnose your strengths
& weaknesses

5. Get feedback from peer evaluators
Evaluators take a break at the 2013 Blue Ribbon Panel in London, UK
Photo: IABC EMENA

6. Stand out in the crowd
Which is more compelling: you claiming to be great on your CV or having third-party validation?
Photo: IABC

7. Gold Quill is a great training tool
Integrate GQ entries into annual evaluations to ensure that team members are constantly sharpening their skills
Photo: IABC

8. Raise your visibility
Winning a Gold Quill can open the door to speaking opportunities, articles, etc.

9. How to enter?

10. 4 Divisions and 47 categories
•
•Digital
•Audio/visual
•Publications
•Writing
•…9 others
•Internal/external comm. training
•Institutional comm. Training
•Comm. Education tools
•Student entry
•Employee engagement
•Leadership communication
•Media relations
•Marcom
•…19 others
•Comm. research / measurement (internal and external)
•Research innovation
•…2 others
Comm. Research Mgt
Comm. Mgt
Communication Skills
Communication Training anfdEducation

11. Online submission
Work plan
Work sample
Fees

13. Key tips for success
•Tell a story, don’t write a project report
•Give the evaluators the context they need
•Ensure a chain of evidence from business need to strategy and tactics.
•Tie your measurable objectives to that chain of evidence and then measure against the stated objectives
•Don’t stuff your entry with fluff

14. •Entries are evaluated against set criteria and scored for excellence
•You do not keep against someone’s else’s big budget or “sexy” theme
Not a beauty contest
Photo: Wikimedia

15. ≥ 5.75 = EXCELLENCE
Entries are marked down for omissions, insufficient information, lack of strategic thinking, misaligned measurement
Entries are marked up for creativity, good use of resources, strategic, aligned with business
4
COMPETENCE
≥5.25 = MERIT
WORK PLAN
•Business need/opportunity
•Stakeholder analysis
•Goals and objectives
•Solution overview
•Implementation and challenges
•Measurement and evaluation
WORK SAMPLE
•Alignment
•Professional execution
•Overall quality

16. Help is available!
http://gq.iabc.com

17. Deadlines and entry fees
Early bird 12 November 2014
Final
7 January 2015
IABC member
$250 (~€195)
$325 (~€255)
IABC student member
$25 (~€20)
$40 (~€31)
Non-member
$350 (~€275)
$425 (~€335)
Student non-member
$60 (~€47)
$75 (~€59)

18. They did it, why not you?

19. Gala celebration
15 June 2015
IABC World Conference
San Francisco, CA, USA
Photo: IABC