There is actually an award for the stinkiest shoe. The Stella Award recognizes the dumbest lawsuits. There are the elite Oscars and Emmy’s awards. There are the “local” awards: 40 Under 40, Legacy Awards, Best Places to Work, etc. Which awards matter?

The U.S. Chamber Foundation just announced that it is accepting nominations for its Corporate Citizenship Awards. There are a number of different types of CSR awards out there, and I can’t help but wonder: which ones really matter? Any time a company gets an award, its Marketing & Communications team will undoubtedly put out a press release in hopes of getting some media hits. And they will tout it on their website and other marketing materials – as they should. But who pays attention, and does it influence its customers?

Also, let’s be honest: more often than not, and in most industries, awards result from companies that nominate themselves. [In full disclosure, I will admit that I have nominated myself and/or the entity I represented for an award.] It offers an opportunity for reflection on what you’ve done well and what you learned over the past year. It gives validation to the fact that you’re doing good work. It’s a tool that you can use to promote yourself to your clients. And once in awhile – as I recently found out – potential clients will really dig into your background before they decide to hire you.

All that to say: awards can be a helpful, too. But I am curious: which awards really matter to you in the work that you do?