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Nomination Admin Guide: Setting Up Your First Nomination

Nominations let you ask colleagues to submit their favourite Moments. This guide walks you through creating a nomination.

Tahera Barok McArthur avatar
Written by Tahera Barok McArthur
Updated this week

This guide covers creating both standalone nominations and multi-nomination events.

You need either Nominations Manager or Nominations Admin permissions to create and manage nominations.

Accessing Nomination Management

  1. Click Nominations in the sidebar

  2. Click Manage in the top right corner

Choosing Between Standalone Nominations and Events

When you access the manage page, you'll see two creation options:

Standalone Nomination

Creates a single, independent nomination.

Best for:

  • ✅ One-off recognition programmes

  • ✅ Single-category awards

  • ✅ Simple quarterly or monthly nominations

  • ✅ Testing nomination features

Example scenarios:

  • Employee of the Month

  • Customer Service Star

  • Innovation Award

  • Peer Recognition

Event (Multiple Nomination Catergories)

Creates a container that holds multiple related nominations.

Best for:

  • ✅ Annual awards ceremonies

  • ✅ Multi-category recognition programmes

  • ✅ Themed nomination periods

  • ✅ Departmental award events

Example scenarios:

  • Annual Company Awards (with categories: Leadership, Innovation, Teamwork)

  • Quarterly Excellence Programme (with categories: Sales, Support, Operations)

  • Values Awards (with separate nominations for each company value)


Creating an Event

If you're running multiple related nominations, create an event first.

Step 1: Initiate Event Creation

Click Create now under the Event section.

Step 2: Configure Event Settings

Complete the following fields:

Event Title Name your event clearly (e.g., "Q4 2025 Excellence Awards", "Annual Recognition Event").

Logo Choose an image or emoji to represent your event.

Nomination Period

  • Start date and time

  • End date and time

All nominations within this event will use these dates automatically.

Announcement Communications Configure notifications for:

  • In-app announcements

  • Email notifications

Collaborators (Optional) Add Nomination Managers who can help manage this event.

Step 3: Save Your Event

Click Save to create the event.


Creating a Nomination

For Event-Based Nominations

If you created an event:

  1. Open your event from the manage page

  2. Click Add Nomination within the event

  3. Configure the nomination (see settings below)

⚠️ Important: You must use the Add Nomination button inside the event, otherwise your nomination won't be linked to it.

For Standalone Nominations

  1. Click Create a nomination

  2. Click Create now under Nominations

  3. Configure the nomination (see settings below)

Nomination Configuration Settings

Configure these fields for your nomination:

Basic Information

  • Logo Select an image or emoji that represents this nomination category.

  • Nomination Name Create a clear, descriptive name (e.g., "Star of the Quarter", "Leadership Excellence Award").

  • Short Description Explain what this nomination recognises. Keep it concise but informative. Example: "Recognising colleagues who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, inspired their teams, and driven positive change this quarter."

Submission Period

For standalone nominations, set:

  • When colleagues can start submitting nominations

  • When submissions close

Event nominations automatically use the event's start and end dates.

Eligibility Settings

Who Can Be Nominated: Define which colleagues are eligible to receive nominations:

  • All employees

  • Specific departments

  • Specific teams

  • Custom groups

Team Nominations: Toggle whether multiple people can be nominated together as a team.

Who Can Nominate: Define which colleagues can submit nominations:

  • All employees

  • Specific departments

  • Managers only

  • Custom groups

Submission Limit: Set how many nominations each person can submit (e.g., 1, 3, 5, unlimited).

Collaborators (Optional)

Add Nomination Managers who can help manage this specific nomination.

Step 4: Save Your Nomination

Click Save to create the nomination. It will appear in your manage section.


What Happens After Creation

Initial Setup Complete

Once saved, eligible colleagues will see the nomination on their submissions page when it goes live.


Automatic Email Notifications

Day 1 (24 hours after creation) Eligible colleagues receive an email notification about the new nomination.

Best Practice: Create your nomination at least one day before you want colleagues to start submitting to account for this 24-hour delay.

2 Days Before Closing Colleagues receive a reminder email, giving last-minute participants time to submit nominations.

Nominee Notifications

When someone is nominated:

  • The nominee receives an email notification

  • They cannot view nomination details until official announcement

  • This maintains surprise for award reveals


Common Nomination Workflows

Monthly Recognition Programme

Setup:

  • Create a standalone nomination

  • Set monthly submission period (e.g., 1st-25th of each month)

  • Allow unlimited nominations per person

  • Open to all employees

Quarterly Awards Event

Setup:

  • Create an event for the quarter

  • Add multiple nominations (e.g., Innovation, Teamwork, Customer Focus)

  • Set 2-3 week submission period

  • Limit to 3 nominations per person per category

Annual Company Awards

Setup:

  • Create an event for the year

  • Add 5-10 category nominations

  • Set 4-week submission period

  • Include all employees

  • Add multiple collaborators to manage


Tips for Successful Nominations

Timing Your Nominations

  • ✅ Create nominations 24-48 hours before launch

  • ✅ Allow sufficient submission time (minimum 1 week)

  • ✅ Avoid clashing with busy periods (e.g., month-end)

  • ✅ Consider time zones for global teams

Clear Communication

  • ✅ Write descriptive nomination names

  • ✅ Explain criteria clearly in descriptions

  • ✅ Communicate announcement dates

  • ✅ Set expectations about winner selection

Engagement Strategies

  • ✅ Use events to create excitement around themed periods

  • ✅ Send reminder messages mid-way through submission period

  • ✅ Share example nominations to guide colleagues

  • ✅ Celebrate previous winners to encourage participation

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