It was back in 2005 that we first learned about Michael Scott, Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, PA. As a team leader, he wanted to find a unique way to validate his employees. He believed that his role as manager and his employees were very important, once saying, “Do I have a special someone? Well, yeah of course my employees.” He knew that their uniqueness was something to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Michael Scott once said, “An employee will go home and he’ll tell his neighbor, ‘Hey, did you get an award?’ And the neighbor will say, ‘No man, I mean I slave all day and nobody notices me.’ Next thing you know, Employee smells something terrible coming from the neighbor’s house. Neighbor’s hanged himself… due to lack of recognition.”
We are all familiar with business awards that honor the top salesmen, closing the most deals and getting the most lucrative contracts. What about the hottest in the office, the busiest beaver or even the whitest sneakers? Don’t they deserve recognition as well? He knew there had to be a better way; all employees deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated. So he decided to do something about it and created The Dundies. It was a way for each and every employee to get the recognition they deserve.
Although the last Dundie Awards took place in 2011, the legacy which Michael Scott founded continues to live on. He was considered somewhat inept but we now know he was also a visionary. He instinctively knew that rewarding specific behaviors, accomplishments and strengths is vital to maintaining productivity and boosting morale. According to him, “The Dundies are about the best in every one of us.”
So be creative and come up with some poignant, funny or just plain silly award categories, buy some Dundie Trophies and have a ceremony that your employees will cherish.
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