Creating a nomination form is an essential process in recognizing and rewarding deserving individuals within your organization or community. Microsoft Forms, with its user-friendly interface and integration capabilities, is an excellent tool to streamline this process. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to create an effective nomination form using Microsoft Forms.
Before you begin, ensure you have a clear understanding of the purpose of the nomination, the criteria for selection, and the intended audience for the form. This will help you create a well-structured and relevant nomination form.
Setting Up Your Microsoft Form
To get started, log in to your Microsoft account and navigate to the Microsoft Forms homepage. Click on 'New Form' to create a new form. This is your canvas where you'll build your nomination form.
Give your form a title that clearly indicates its purpose, such as 'Employee of the Month Nomination Form' or 'Community Service Award Nomination Form'. This helps to manage and identify your form later.
Drafting the Introduction Section
Start by adding an introduction section to provide users with clear instructions about the nomination process. Use the 'Title' question type to write a welcoming and concise introduction explaining the purpose of the form and the nomination process. For example, 'We are excited to announce our annual Employee of the Month Award! If you know an employee who has gone above and beyond, please take a moment to nominate them using this form.'
Next, use the 'Subtitle' question type to add a brief description of the nominee's achievements or qualities that should be highlighted. For instance, 'Please share specific examples of how this employee has demonstrated our company values or made significant contributions to our team's success.'
Designing the Nomination Sections
The core of your nomination form consists of sections where nominators provide information about the nominee and their achievements. Use the 'Text' question type to collect detailed narrative responses. For example, 'Please provide a detailed description of the nominee's achievement, including the impact it had on our team or company. Be sure to include specific examples and data where possible.'
To elaborate on the nominee's qualities or achievements, add a follow-up question using the 'Text' question type again. This time, you might ask, 'How has this nominee displayed our company values in their actions?' or 'In what ways has this nominee gone above and beyond their regular duties?'
Collecting Nominator Information
It's essential to collect contact information from the nominator for follow-ups and to provide an opportunity for nominators to share their thoughts. Use the 'Text' question type for basic contact information like 'Name' and 'Email Address'.
To allow nominators to share more about their reasons for nominating, use the 'Paragraph' question type. This provides a larger text box for longer responses. For instance, 'In your opinion, what makes this nominee especially deserving of the award? Please share any additional information or personal anecdotes you'd like us to know.'
Including Multiple Nominations
If you allow multiple nominations per person, use the 'Choice' or 'Rating' question types to ask if the nominator would like to submit another nomination. For example, use the 'Choice' question type with options like 'Yes, I'd like to submit another nomination', 'No, I'm finished', and 'I'm not sure yet'. This helps you to gauge if nominators are interested in submitting more nominations, which can be valuable for managing your nomination process.
Remember, less is more when it comes to form questions. Avoid asking unnecessary questions to minimize respondent fatigue. Be clear, concise, and relevant in your questions to encourage higher response rates and more thoughtful nominations.
Once you're satisfied with your form's structure, click on 'Share' at the top-right corner to generate a link or share the form via social media, email, or other platforms. Promote your nomination form widely and across relevant channels to gather as many nominations as possible.
Microsoft Forms provides you with real-time response analytics, allowing you to track and manage your nominations effectively. As responses come in, use the data to make informed decisions and select the most deserving nominees. Transforming the nomination process into a streamlined and engaging experience with Microsoft Forms sets a strong foundation for a successful and impactful recognition program.