At Pinnacle, recognition has always been at the heart of what we do. For over two decades, we have designed awards, trophies and service anniversary celebration kits for organisations of every size. From small teams of just 10 or 20 people celebrating their very first milestone to corporations with more than a lakh employees.
But through these years, one truth became clear. Recognition was not missing, it was losing its meaning. It was becoming just another program to manage, a process to automate, or an incentive to buy. The human connection—the part that truly makes recognition powerful—was getting lost.
That realization led our founder, Nidhi Jain Seth, to take on a very different project: writing her debut book, Ditch the Sugar Coating.
Why This Book Matters
Ditch the Sugar Coating is not another HR manual or management checklist. It is a call to bring recognition back to what it was always meant to be: real, human, and lasting.
Drawing from 25 years in the recognition industry, the book weaves together stories, practical insights, and reflections to address some of the most pressing challenges leaders face today. It explores:
- The difference between appreciation, recognition, incentives, and bonuses and why it matters.
- Why recognition works not only for executives but also for blue-collar teams, families, and founders.
- The small details that separate genuine recognition from money spent without impact.
- What leaders often get wrong about recognition, and how to fix it.
- The surprising ways trust shapes the success of recognition programs.
It is a reminder that recognition is not optional. It is not the dessert at the end of the meal. It is the main course. Done well, it fuels performance, strengthens trust, and helps people show up at their best every single day.
A Visual Dimension
Every chapter has a beautiful artwork in the beginning. Not something that defines the chapter but just……We love it, and we would love to know your thoughts around it.
A Natural Extension of Our Work
For Pinnacle, this book is more than a milestone. It is a natural extension of the work we have been doing with our clients for more than two decades. Helping leaders and teams see recognition not as an afterthought, but as the very foundation of culture and performance.
It also reflects our ethos as designers. Whether it is a customised trophy or a thoughtfully designed recognition program, the value is never in the material alone. It lies in the care, the detail, and the intention behind it. Recognition, when done right, works the same way.
An Invitation
Ditch the Sugar Coating is out in the world now. Our hope is simple: that it sparks a pause in how we see each other at work, and beyond. That it reminds leaders, teams, and even families that recognition isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about presence, detail, and honesty.
Share your story, your feedback, your reflections. And if you believe, like we do, that recognition is the heartbeat of high-performing teams then let’s start rewriting the story together.
Because recognition isn’t broken. But it’s time we start doing it right.
Learn more at www.ditchthesugarcoating.com
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