WINFO Issue #25

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VANCOUVER THEATRESPORTS "Sponsored Content" 5 TIPS FOR BETTER MEETINGS techniques, such as appropriate eye contact and using affirmatives and nodding, which encourages speakers to continue and forces listeners to be fully present in the conversation. Meetings can be a drag – but they don’t have to be. For a lot of us, meetings are a part of everyday life. The Improv for Business division at Vancouver TheatreSports have been helping organizations of all sizes to transform meetings into super-charged brainstorming sessions, increasing the return on the time invested. They do so through their unique improv-based approach – an approach they’ve pioneered and perfected over the two decades they’ve been working with organizations across Canada. Here are 5 quick tips from Ken Lawson, the lead facilitator for the Improv for Business Division at Vancouver TheatreSports, that you can apply to jump-start creativity and collaboration in your next meeting. Tip #1 “Yes, And” The foundation for a creative and collaborative meeting is trust; each attendee should know that they can contribute ideas freely, without judgment or obstacles being placed in their way by colleagues. As a team, committing to the principle of “Yes, And”, the core tenet that improvisation is based on, produces an environment where all ideas are accepted, supported and given a chance. Tip #2 Active Listening Try this at the start of your next strategy meeting. It’s an activity we call “Listen Better, Listen Worse”, highlighting the importance of being engaged when listening to other speak. To facilitate the exercise, start by having one person speak to the group on a tic their passionate about (the Canucks, running, travel, etc.). Instruct the group who are listening to really engage, listening intently. After a minute or so, instruct the group to “listen worse,” or disengage. They can change to more passive body language, start checking their phones, looking around the room, shuffling their feet or walking away. Ask the speaker how they felt when the group was engaged, and how they felt when the group disengaged. The listeners then learn active listening Tip #3 Get Rid of the Gadgets Pretty straight forward. The Improv Mindset is all about being fully present. A group of meeting attendees all checking their phones at various times blocks that. Leave the phones at your desk. Tip #4 Take a Breather Effective two-way communication during a meeting requires moments of silence. Pause for a second before you reply to a question. It allows you to absorb what was said (active listening) and to organize your thoughts, resulting in clearer and more confident responses. Tip #5 It’s About The Team Great improv is about teamwork and making your fellow cast mates look good. Meetings can be so much more effective when attendees aren’t overly protective of their own ideas. The Improv Mindset is about being open to change and allowing your ideas to evolve based on the contributions of others. Clinging to your own contribution prevents you from recognizing other ideas from the group that might better solve the problem. If everyone focuses on the “glory of the group”, understanding it’s not about having the best idea, but about collaborating to discover the best idea and solutions. Learn more about The Improv Mindset and how Vancouver TheatreSports can help your organization with our Improv for Business workshops. If you’re interested in receiving an information pack please email Jeff at development@vtsl.com. 8
NHL GAME PICKS AND ANALYSIS HABS – LEAFS HIGHLIGHT THE WEEK “Trade-week” has always been an interesting time to handicap the games with our publication deadlines and breaking down matchups that will take place three, four or five days later. It’s obviously impossible to factor in any significant moves that happen after publishing - the impact on a team, both on the ice and in the dressing room. With that in mind, if we have a major shift on one of the games this week, we’ll post it on the Blog at Winfolive. com. Otherwise it will stand as a game we’re playing. Saturday, February 25th Washington Capitals at Nashville Predators The Predators have battled their way into the playoff race after a lot of mediocre hockey through the first half of the season. They’re creating quality scoring chances on a consistent basis, with the line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson emerging as a matchup problem. On the back end, PK Subban has found his footing, putting together a stretch of games here that is amongst the top of any D-man in the league, making plays at both ends of the rink, but particularly having an impact helping drive offense from the back. They matchup pretty nicely with the Capitals. We’ll get a good number on a home team that is on the upswing and can play with the Caps top six. Take Nashville Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs Montreal are still a team that continues to struggle offensively (20 goals in their last 12 games). They do appear to have Carey Price rounding back into form, which takes some pressure off the offense, but the key word is “some” not all. He can give this team a chance to win, even with no pop upfront, but they have to start finding goals from other players not named Pacioretty and Radulov. Looking for where new coach Claude Julien has made an immediate difference? Check the penalty kill. Montreal had issues when down a man, ranking in the bottom third of the league before the coaching change. Watch for them to start to climb to a much more respectable spot. Julien’s aggressive style served the Bruins well and will do the same here. In the three games he’s been behind the Habs’ bench they’ve already been 9
Page 1 and 2: WINFOFeb. 24 - Mar. 2, 2017 Issue #
Page 3 and 4: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY BLOG
Page 5 and 6: WINE AND WHINING WINE &WHINING The
Page 7: TEE TIME MASTERS’ ODDS - DJ JUMPS
Page 11 and 12: FUTURES FORAY COLLEGE HOCKEY FUTURE

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