Ever since the Dundies were introduced to the mainstream by the critically acclaimed TV show ‘The Office’, corporate awards have become a hot topic. Trophies have been around for a long time. In Ancient Greece, winners of different games were awarded with items that have evolved into what we called trophies today. The act of rewarding and the idea of rewards have long been associated with trophies, and due to this embedded association, trophies carry a sense of authenticity that other rewards may lack.
Studies have linked trophies with increased motivation and higher self-esteem. These two factors are essential for a healthy work environment and satisfied employees. As trophies are a symbol of achievement, naturally the person who wins a trophy feels that he has achieved something. During the course of this ‘feeling’, dopamine is released in our brains which in turn creates a dopamine loop. Consequently, the employee’s level of productivity increases as s/he works more efficiently seeking the same feeling of being appreciated.
Self-esteem is an important aspect of personal development which cannot be overlooked. Trophies, due to the aforementioned culturally deep-rooted association with the idea of rewards and the act of rewarding, act as a positive reinforcement for the employees, resulting in a work environment conducive to new ideas and increased productivity.
Trophies of the modern day
A brief history of trophies
Trophies of different kind have been a part of the human experience for a long time. As mentioned above, the Greek used to reward winners with different items. These items included laurel wreaths, cups of silver and bronze, vases, etc. With the introduction of the chalice in the middle ages, the idea of decorative cups as rewards had started to stabilize. Eventually, all these items evolved into the idea of trophies that we know of today. In 21st century, the diversity in designs, material, ornaments, etc. are immense, and there’s no trophy that can be visualised but not made. Trophies became a symbol of achievement that transcended all fields, be it sports, theatre, music, schools and even the corporate world.
People treasure their trophies – longer shelf life, more exposure, happy employees.
The science behind it
The neurotransmitter dopamine is released into our brains whenever something, which our mind considers good happens. However, this process can also be triggered by drugs or other harmful behaviour. On a brighter note, our logical mind plays a part in the release of this neurotransmitter, and for a majority of people, it is released after positive actions.
Ventral Tegmental area (VTA) is the region in our brains responsible for the release of dopamine. Our senses tell the VTA to reward the mind whenever there is a positive action favourable for our body or mind itself. As a result, the VTA fires a horde of neurons to the hypothalamus, which plays a crucial role in the processes inside our brain, including but not limited to the release of hormones, regulation of body temperature, controlment of appetite and regulation of emotional responses. There are two pathways through which dopamine travels: The Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway and The Mesocortical Pathway.
The first pathway connects the VTA with a region in our brain known as the nucleus accumbens. This is the part which triggers the transition between thought and action. For instance, if you’re thinking about rubbing your eyes, it is your nucleus accumbens that gives the command which results in the conversion of thought into action, i.e., you actually rubbing your eyes. Therefore, when dopamine reaches the nucleus accumbens, it acts as a sign of approval that reinforces the present behaviour (which led to the release of dopamine in the first place). On the other hand, the mesocortical pathway deals with the mental aspect of reinforcement instead of physical reactions. This pathway also passes through the nucleus accumben but the movement of neurons doesn’t stop there, rather it travels on to the cerebral cortex, where we process an enjoyable experience and remember it. This pathway isn’t as effective as the mesolimbic pathway in feeling pleasure, but it helps in repetition of the dopamine-releasing behaviour by bringing it into the limelight of our conscious mind.
When it is in the limelight, our mind recalls how good the experience was and we take action to repeat the same behaviour – this is called motivation. In other words, we become motivated to repeat the same behaviour. Whenever we receive an award or a trophy, dopamine is released into the two pathways and hence, we repeat the same award-winning behaviour with more intensity.
Corporate trophies: the traditional incentive
Branding and buying a trophy
Proper branding is essential on the trophies as they have a long shelf-life because of the attached value – people like to preserve their trophies. The most important part of branded trophies is the font you use. Be sure to pick a font which is suitable for your organization. For instance, flashy fonts will probably not suit a serious corporate award. Other than that, there a number of things you need to consider before investing in trophies.
Weight
Light trophies which are quite big in size are a sheer disappointment for many people. This lightness indicates the hollowness of the trophy or the cheap material used in its creation. Just like wristwatches, heavier trophies are generally preferred over lighter ones. As trophies are associated with achievements, a lighter trophy can undermine the gravity of one’s achievements.
Size and shape
Trophies for different occasions call for different shapes and sizes. For instance, trophies awarded to children in school are usually small, while those awarded to teams after winning a league or a tournament are huge. Corporate awards are usually not too small and definitely not too large. Yet, times are changing and this is the age of postmodernists where experimentation is necessary. There are a variety of designs, shapes and sizes available. On top of that, if you don’t want a traditional trophy with a base, you can also opt for medals.
Material
The material of trophy is crucial in determining its quality. Today, trophies are made of different materials including Crystal, glass, metal, wood and acrylic. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. For further information and more products, visit us at http://www.tech-n-threads.com/
Corporate trophies-Hacking the psych
Why trophies?
Ever since the Dundies were introduced to the mainstream by the critically acclaimed TV show ‘The Office’, corporate awards have become a hot topic. Trophies have been around for a long time. In Ancient Greece, winners of different games were awarded with items that have evolved into what we called trophies today. The act of rewarding and the idea of rewards have long been associated with trophies, and due to this embedded association, trophies carry a sense of authenticity that other rewards may lack.
Studies have linked trophies with increased motivation and higher self-esteem. These two factors are essential for a healthy work environment and satisfied employees. As trophies are a symbol of achievement, naturally the person who wins a trophy feels that he has achieved something. During the course of this ‘feeling’, dopamine is released in our brains which in turn creates a dopamine loop. Consequently, the employee’s level of productivity increases as s/he works more efficiently seeking the same feeling of being appreciated.
Self-esteem is an important aspect of personal development which cannot be overlooked. Trophies, due to the aforementioned culturally deep-rooted association with the idea of rewards and the act of rewarding, act as a positive reinforcement for the employees, resulting in a work environment conducive to new ideas and increased productivity.
Trophies of the modern day
A brief history of trophies
Trophies of different kind have been a part of the human experience for a long time. As mentioned above, the Greek used to reward winners with different items. These items included laurel wreaths, cups of silver and bronze, vases, etc. With the introduction of the chalice in the middle ages, the idea of decorative cups as rewards had started to stabilize. Eventually, all these items evolved into the idea of trophies that we know of today. In 21st century, the diversity in designs, material, ornaments, etc. are immense, and there’s no trophy that can be visualised but not made. Trophies became a symbol of achievement that transcended all fields, be it sports, theatre, music, schools and even the corporate world.
People treasure their trophies – longer shelf life, more exposure, happy employees.
The science behind it
The neurotransmitter dopamine is released into our brains whenever something, which our mind considers good happens. However, this process can also be triggered by drugs or other harmful behaviour. On a brighter note, our logical mind plays a part in the release of this neurotransmitter, and for a majority of people, it is released after positive actions.
Ventral Tegmental area (VTA) is the region in our brains responsible for the release of dopamine. Our senses tell the VTA to reward the mind whenever there is a positive action favourable for our body or mind itself. As a result, the VTA fires a horde of neurons to the hypothalamus, which plays a crucial role in the processes inside our brain, including but not limited to the release of hormones, regulation of body temperature, controlment of appetite and regulation of emotional responses. There are two pathways through which dopamine travels: The Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway and The Mesocortical Pathway.
The first pathway connects the VTA with a region in our brain known as the nucleus accumbens. This is the part which triggers the transition between thought and action. For instance, if you’re thinking about rubbing your eyes, it is your nucleus accumbens that gives the command which results in the conversion of thought into action, i.e., you actually rubbing your eyes. Therefore, when dopamine reaches the nucleus accumbens, it acts as a sign of approval that reinforces the present behaviour (which led to the release of dopamine in the first place). On the other hand, the mesocortical pathway deals with the mental aspect of reinforcement instead of physical reactions. This pathway also passes through the nucleus accumben but the movement of neurons doesn’t stop there, rather it travels on to the cerebral cortex, where we process an enjoyable experience and remember it. This pathway isn’t as effective as the mesolimbic pathway in feeling pleasure, but it helps in repetition of the dopamine-releasing behaviour by bringing it into the limelight of our conscious mind.
When it is in the limelight, our mind recalls how good the experience was and we take action to repeat the same behaviour – this is called motivation. In other words, we become motivated to repeat the same behaviour. Whenever we receive an award or a trophy, dopamine is released into the two pathways and hence, we repeat the same award-winning behaviour with more intensity.
Corporate trophies: the traditional incentive
Branding and buying a trophy
Proper branding is essential on the trophies as they have a long shelf-life because of the attached value – people like to preserve their trophies. The most important part of branded trophies is the font you use. Be sure to pick a font which is suitable for your organization. For instance, flashy fonts will probably not suit a serious corporate award. Other than that, there a number of things you need to consider before investing in trophies.
Weight
Light trophies which are quite big in size are a sheer disappointment for many people. This lightness indicates the hollowness of the trophy or the cheap material used in its creation. Just like wristwatches, heavier trophies are generally preferred over lighter ones. As trophies are associated with achievements, a lighter trophy can undermine the gravity of one’s achievements.
Size and shape
Trophies for different occasions call for different shapes and sizes. For instance, trophies awarded to children in school are usually small, while those awarded to teams after winning a league or a tournament are huge. Corporate awards are usually not too small and definitely not too large. Yet, times are changing and this is the age of postmodernists where experimentation is necessary. There are a variety of designs, shapes and sizes available. On top of that, if you don’t want a traditional trophy with a base, you can also opt for medals.
Material
The material of trophy is crucial in determining its quality. Today, trophies are made of different materials including Crystal, glass, metal, wood and acrylic. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. For further information and more products, visit us at http://www.tech-n-threads.com/