On the Bookshelf at O.N.Z.C.D.A™

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Your award program has been built, the criteria has been decided upon and your current assessors panel consists of friends on the Net. You have done okay so far with minor program recognition but the time has arrived to collect a team of assessors who will, through their expertise and loyal support, take your program to undreamed of heights.

Building one of your valued and most important Internet assets will more than likely be one of, if not the most difficult and rewarding tasks you will undertake and of prime importance are never ending patience, being prepared to question, question and question again potential assessors checking out thoroughly the skills they display at their own web sites, having clear and open communication with them in order to ascertain their communication and team player skill levels and in general, getting a 'feel' of the persons behind the emails.

Always remember - your assessment team members will be the heart, soul, spirit and spinal column of your award program. Without them your program will collapse into obscurity! They are not compensated financially for the long hours they put in but you can repay them with respect, validation, consideration, sincerity and honesty.

Visit award established programs - gain knowledge of their assessors, advertise that you are seeking staff, seek advice from managers of other reputable award programs and yes - they will assist you, but you must be prepared to listen and give serious consideration to their advice. Make a short list of persons you are interested in. Send emails to all on your short list including details of the position - what you offer to and what would be required of them. Be totally 'up front' regarding your program memberships, problems, ratings etc - always provide enough information in order for your prospects to make informed choices.

Your first main asset is your program management. If you just don't have the time available or don't feel that you have skills for this job then don't do it!.

Seek out a program manager who has the special skills required to maintain a quality assessment team working from a quality program who can provide the team members with respect, empathy, honesty, support, assurance, much encouragement and lots of that important ingredient - patience. Always choose your manager first for if you have chosen correctly, your new program manager will be indispensable during the team choice processes.

A diplomatic, caring, non self seeking manager will provide skills that would be assets in any business - will be a person who will voluntarily go above and beyond the call of duty - who is prepared to take chances on unskilled persons in the field of web site assessments providing them with the support required while they gain new skills as they undergo training and who will be able to 'take over' the entire program if required in a seamless move.

Take one nervous, overwhelmed and scared applicant and one award program of the highest standards possible. Mix well. Spread with the icing or frosting from the assessors mix and serve frequently to all applicants who enter, with some trepidation, through your award program door.

Now that you have your team in place you can sit back and consider just how the program ever functioned without them. But don't relax too much for the life of your program is just beginning so prepare yourself for one exciting, extremely interesting and highly rewarding journey.