Before the awards day
Five plays to make your The Legacy of Leadership Award nomination work for you now, long before the envelopes are opened.
Most nominees make one quiet mistake. They treat the nomination as a polite compliment and think, “I am only a nominee. I will wait and see if I make the shortlist before I say anything.”
Waiting gives away all your momentum.
Here is the truth: someone respected your work enough to put your name forward against the whole field. That alone is independent proof that what you do stands out. When you use your nomination straight away:
- You claim the story early, showing confidence in your journey rather than waiting for an envelope to prove it.
- You create interest, enquiries and authority now, so you win commercially whatever the judges decide.
- You arrive as an active, engaged leader, not a hopeful onlooker, and organisers, sponsors and peers notice.
From nominee to name to know
Five moves, in order, between your nomination and the awards night. Each one builds on the last.
- Play 1Wear the nominee crestClaim your ground early, and spark curiosity
- Play 2Tell the story behind itThe grit, not the glory
- Play 3Build the bridge to your championsHonour the people who backed you
- Play 4Warm up your pipelineTurn the nod into commercial momentum
- Play 5Arrive with a planPurpose and calm confidence, win or not
- Play1
Wear the nominee crest
Claim your ground early, and spark curiosity
The goal: Tell your world, straight away, that your work has been put forward for formal recognition.
Backing yourself is not arrogance. It is an invitation for the people around you to rally behind you. Share your nomination with gratitude, and they will want to.
What it is
Your nomination on your email signature, your LinkedIn headline and your website bio.
Why it helps
It plants a flag of credibility before anyone has read your pitch or your CV.
What it means for you
You stand out in busy inboxes and feeds, and every ordinary email becomes quiet proof that you work at the highest level.
Your checklist
- 1Update your LinkedIn headline: "Nominated: [your category], The Legacy of Leadership Award 2026-27".
- 2Add a line to your email signature: "Proud nominee, [your category], The Legacy of Leadership Award 2026-27".
- 3Update your bio, and your company's, to name the work or the milestone that earned the nomination.
- Play2
Tell the story behind it
The grit, not the glory
The goal: Share why this nomination matters to you: the problem you took on, not the nod itself.
Accolades are forgotten. Stories of resilience, near misses and breakthroughs are remembered.
What it is
A longer post, a short case study or a video about the work and the challenge behind your nomination.
Why it helps
It sets you apart from the self-congratulation everyone scrolls past, because it gives people something real.
What it means for you
It connects with people, it lifts your team, and it brings in clients who have the same problem you solved.
Your checklist
- 1Write it in three parts: the problem we saw, the hurdle we had to clear, and the difference it made.
- 2Thank the team members, clients and mentors who made it possible, by name.
- 3Tag the The Legacy of Leadership Award and your category sponsor, so your story lands right in front of them.
- Play3
Build the bridge to your champions
Honour the people who backed you
The goal: Deepen your relationships with the people who nominated you, supported you and sponsor your category.
A nomination is a gift of trust. Meet it with real gratitude, and casual supporters become lifelong advocates.
What it is
A personal thank you to the person who nominated you, to your mentors and to your category sponsor.
Why it helps
You build warm, equal relationships with industry leaders before the judges have even decided.
What it means for you
Your circle grows to include decision makers, sponsors and champions who will keep recommending you.
Your checklist
- 1Send a personal, thoughtful note to whoever nominated you or supported your nomination.
- 2Reach out to the leadership of your category sponsor on LinkedIn (a message to copy is below).
- 3Celebrate the other nominees in your field. A rising tide lifts every boat.
To your category sponsor
“Hi [name], I saw that [sponsor company] is championing the [your category] at this year's The Legacy of Leadership Award. Thank you for backing high standards in our sector. We are proud to have our team's work nominated in this space.”
- Play4
Warm up your pipeline
Turn the nod into commercial momentum
The goal: Use the good news of your nomination as a natural, unpushy reason to get back in touch with prospects and past clients.
You do not need a trophy to win business. Independent recognition builds trust, and you can use it today.
What it is
A short, genuine check-in that mentions your nomination and shares one useful lesson from the work.
Why it helps
It gives you a reason to get in touch that never sounds desperate, pushy or purely transactional.
What it means for you
Stalled conversations restart, decisions come sooner, and your prices make sense to a market that is taking notice.
Your checklist
- 1List 10 to 15 prospects, past clients or stalled proposals from the last six months.
- 2Send each a personal check-in (a message to copy is below), with a link to your story from Play 2.
A check-in to a past client or prospect
“Hi [first name], I hope you are having a good week. While I was putting together some notes on our recent nomination for [your category] at the The Legacy of Leadership Award, I was reminded of our conversation about [their challenge]. I thought you might find our approach useful: [link to your post or case study]. It would be great to catch up for 15 minutes when things are calmer for you.”
- Play5
Arrive with a plan
Purpose and calm confidence, win or not
The goal: Go into the awards season and the day itself knowing exactly who you want to meet and how you will talk about your work.
When you stop asking "Will I win?", nerves give way to relaxed confidence. You are there to connect, to learn and to grow.
What it is
A simple plan of the companies, speakers and sponsors you want to meet.
Why it helps
No aimless wandering and no awkwardness: every conversation has a purpose and is remembered.
What it means for you
You leave with valuable contacts, partnerships and ideas, whatever happens on stage.
Your checklist
- 1Look at who is sponsoring and attending, and choose three to five leaders you want to meet.
- 2Practise your 30 second introduction (below) until it feels like you.
- 3Have your LinkedIn QR code or digital business card ready on your phone.
Your 30 second introduction: the milestone
“We were recently nominated for [your category] for our work on [one sentence about the project or solution].”
Your 30 second introduction: the mission
“Right now, we are focused on solving [the big problem you help your clients with].”
From nomination to the day
What to focus on, what to deliver, and what it wins you, stage by stage.
Announce and anchor
You deliver
Your profiles, email signature and bios updated
The win
Instant credibility, and congratulations coming to you
Story and reach
You deliver
Your honest, behind-the-scenes story published
The win
Reach across your industry, and a proud team
Network and pipeline
You deliver
Thank yous to your nominator and sponsor; check-ins with quiet leads
The win
Warm leads back in play, and new relationships with leaders
Focus and preparation
You deliver
Your 30 second introduction, and the list of people to meet
The win
A relaxed, confident presence that draws opportunities to you
You do not need an envelope to start winning.
Start with Play 1 today. Then, after the day, keep the momentum going for a whole year with your twelve month guide.