A Mutual Understanding

Having an unwritten code of conduct or some underlying understanding among those who work in a business is the pillar of corporate culture. Treating employees like family-members means respect is sacred. At PacBlue, the emphasis on this is evident, “…our employees are like members of our family. We work together for the benefit of all and there is an unwritten understanding that promotes collaboration, mutual respect and hard work for the common benefit”, says Slobinksy.

Corporate Identity: 

As technology rapidly changes, many companies are forced to quickly shift its corporate identity while becoming more “tech-savvy”. Other companies shift identities with changes in ownership. At PacBlue, the identity has remained constant, as Slobinsky says, “Our identity as a company has remained the same since the company was bought by the current ownership in 1993. We are proud to be locally owned & operated, we are proud & grateful for being able to give back to the community where we live and we are committed to our environment.”

So how does PacBlue feel about collaborating with CCV?

“Every opportunity to have fun together contributes to strengthen a team’s chemistry and participating at the CCV summer games is not an exception. We are happy not only to participate but to be the print sponsor of the CCV Summer Games 2012.”

About:Founded in 1950 PacBlue Printing is recognized as one of the leading printing solutions provider in Vancouver, British Columbia. Built on a background in reprographics and digital reproduction, PacBlue has mastered the ability to deliver a crisp image in beautiful colour on just about any kind of substrate.
Thanks to its premier product mix PacBlue has become the printer of choice for top BC based Canadian and North American companies. PacBlue offers different types of printing solutions including business cards, marketing collateral, point of purchase, construction hoarding, trade show displays, retail signage, vinyl graphics, posters, banners, reprographics, art reproduction and much more.

Vancouver based and family owned PacBlue Printing is recognized for its commitment to preserving the environment and a member of IRGA, SGIA, ICSC and is FSC certified.

Nicolas Slobinsky is the Marketing Communications Manager at PacBlue Printing.
www.pacblueprinting.com

Canada is more Cooperative than Competitive

Canada is probably the best country in the world in which a socially competitive event can work wonders in the business world. One of the concerns that business people have about participating in competition is that their jobs already require some degree of competitiveness. But in Canada, being the friendly country that we are, Mr. Canning thinks that concern is largely offset by the level of cooperation that seems to run through our veins: “We don’t care that much and I think its evidenced in the way people behave at work. For instance, Australia is a far more competitive  environment; Canada is far more cooperative in that regard. So when you put people in a competitive sport, they’re going to treat it as a fun event, they’re probably not going to kick someone in the shins during the soccer game to win the ball, whereas in Australia, they would.”

“A retreat…becomes meaningless if it’s not part of something broader.”

Is a rope pulling event really necessary for a company retreat?

Undoubtedly, a company retreat requires some time commitment on behalf of those attending. The typical “lame duck” company retreat has a negative connotation associated with it. From the perspective of an employee, giving up time to spend time with colleagues is not at the top of the list. From the perspective of an employer, often many of the typical company retreats don’t make a tangible difference to the cohesion and morale of the team. The notion of team-bonding should be satisfied, but Mr. Canning knows some retreats are more effectively designed than others: “It becomes meaningless if it’s not part of something broader. A corporate retreat is good if it reinforces personal development. But what I can’t stand is going to a corporate retreat where they throw in a ‘team-builder’ for two hours and then you’re all pulling a rope and everybody goes ‘I’m a better team-builder now’. I don’t think a token rope-pull event is sufficient for a team-building event in a corporate retreat because you haven’t addressed personal performance .”

The Human Resources Effect

As we all learned in our first year business courses, within the value chain, there are primary and secondary activities. Human Resources is classified as a secondary activity with respect  to the value chain, as it adds value to the organization indirectly: ”we need to understand what the raison d’etre of HR is, which is to support and to provide a culture and a framework for the organization, but isn’t necessarily responsible for the outputs.” It would seem as if one of the best ways to provide this type of support is to enhance personal performance through a justified and sufficient team-building event, not just another token rope-pull.

Simon is now a partner in CompassPeak: Creating Sales, Generating Business.

Contact Mr. Canning at: Simon.Canning@CompassPeak.com

Vancouver, BC (Thursday, March 1 2012) — Corporate Champions Vancouver today officially announced its programs and partnerships for the upcoming CCV Summer Games 2012, to be held over a nine-day period from June 2nd to 10th, 2012.

View the entire media release here.

The New Year has come, and as the first weeks of 2012 roll by, our resolutions are being put to the test. Among quitting smoking, clearing personal debt and others, fitness and losing weight are the perennial front-runners for New Year’s resolutions. So let’s talk about what it means to be fit.

Fitness is ambiguous; one can be fit to swim but not fit to play football. Fitness is also a personal issue; we get slimmer and stronger through our own merit. We use our friends and families to motivate us to stay on track but often find that not having enough time causes us to give up. That, and the overwhelming opinion that working out in a gym just isn’t fun.

As weight rooms and gyms throughout the city lose soldiers throughout the coming weeks, we can find other ways to bolster personal fitness and have more fun without hitting the treadmill or the dumbbells.

When I was in high school, I set a school record for the fastest time around the school campus. How much time did I spend on the treadmill throughout ALL of high school? Around a couple of hours. The key to my long-distance speed, which is arguably the best indicator of all-round fitness, was playing sports.

Playing hockey and soccer for several years bolstered my physical ability without me even realizing it. I was no superstar in either sport. I was the equivalent to Manny Malhotra (since his eye injury): good in the Faceoff circle but hard-pressed to score a goal. Both my soccer and hockey teams had losing records, but fortunately losing on the scoreboard and getting fit have no correlation–unless you’re picking daisies in front of the net.

The truth is, when you’re running (or skating) around chasing an object and trying to score you’re not thinking: “All these calories are just burning away! So long Christmas belly fat!” Instead, you’ll be thinking about how to win. But when time is up, you will always lose…calories, that is. But what you will win is a social element within the team dynamic. Assembling a sports team in the office is a great way to make friends and bond with colleagues. It definitely helps life back at work when everyone around you is on the same team.

If burning fat and getting fit is your new year’s resolution, then achieve it in the most effective and fun way possible. We all like to see progress. This is precisely why treadmills are so counter-intuitive and don’t work for so many people; you’re not physically moving anywhere and the only thing you’re running towards is either a flat screen TV or a wall. The only progress you can see from a treadmill is numbers on a scale, and though that may be rewarding enough for many, you can also see the pounds drop with the added benefits of making new friends and bonding with colleagues by getting a sports team together at work.

Why not kill two birds with one stone?

#Teambuilding

I should clarify that when I say invest, I am not only referring to a monetary value; in many cases, time is the principal investment. Moreover, managers often mistakenly believe that teambuilding is a mere one-time experience when in fact the best teams invest in a long-term vision that supports team performance.

3. Making a long-term investment in team-building

Especially for newly recruited teams, team-building is an essential in forming a solid foundation for future growth. Aside from the usual introductions, it is also a good idea to know what each character is willing to contribute and what he or she desires to achieve in the end. From this, the team can set mutual expectations and objectives that will guide the performance and culture of the entire group.

From this point on, managers or coaches can let their creativity run wild on how to construct an effective and cohesive team. Some of the more traditional ideas for teambuilding events are listed below:

• A scavenger hunt
• Karaoke
• Team dinners
• Playing sports together (See how CCV can help your team here!)
• A mini retreat

The best team-building activities get everyone on the team involved, engaged, and excited. Moreover, the activities should ideally allow the team to practice some of the core skills necessary for a successful team, such as effective communication.

A fitting example of a winning team that understands the value of teambuilding is the 2011 MLS Cup Champions, the LA Galaxy. Prior to the 2011 season, the LA Galaxy arrived in Scottsdale, Arizona for a ten-day training camp featuring practice games and drills. Juggling new players on the roster, the retreat allowed the players and coaches the opportunity to bond as a team.

MLS star Landon Donovan described his view on teambuilding,

My belief has always been the things you do off the field then cultivate themselves on the field. Guys in groups hanging out after training, whether it’s sitting by the pool, going to dinner, watching TV, playing cards…those kinds of things allow for discussions about soccer to take place. Trips like this are crucial to that kind of team building.

On the same topic, veteran defender, Todd Dunivant said,

I hope it helps us continue to jell. We have a lot of new faces this year, and there’s a lot of integration we have to deal with in the team.

Although the LA Galaxy players were attending a ten-day training camp, the teambuilding was not going to end there. As Donovan indicated, groups should continue to strengthen their team cohesion through simple activities such as dinners and talks that can be done throughout the season.

Therefore, I cannot stress enough how important it is for coaches and managers to consider the long-term development of a team. It may even be helpful for coaches to schedule check-in points to ensure the team is on track.

Of course, there is something greater to be gained through teambuilding as well. By the end of the season or project, hopefully you will begin to recognize your teammates as more than simply work partners, but perhaps even friends.

To read more about the LA Galaxy training camps, see here.

Have more ideas on #teambuilding? Share them with us!

1) Online Registration & Online Roster Forms

Great news! You can finally register online! No more of that tedious paper and pen movement, just let your fingers do the magic for you! Follow the simple steps on the screen and you’re on your way to the CCV Summer Games 2012! Early Bird registration is now open with a 5% discount on all tournament prices. Register now!

It should be noted that payments will still be completed via mail-in cheques or phone-in credit cards. If changes need to be made to the submitted team roster, coordinators must contact CCV via email, telephone, or fax.

2) Blog

Remember those days when you had to log on to an entirely different site to check out our blog? Well here’s to saving you another minute now that the blog and the CCV home page are integrated! Catch up on the latest recaps and get your schedules without having to jump back and forth like a skip-rope on the internet.

 3) Testimonials

See what the buzz is all about! Check out some live footage at the event and find out why people love CCV! See the testimonials here.

Want to submit a testimonial to CCV? Send us an email with a few sentences about your experience at the CCV Summer Games.

4) Search Box & Contact Form

Who knew this tiny white box made a difference?! Well, let this box be the quick search solution for you. Type in a topic or keyword and away you go! And if you can’t find what you’re looking for feel free to shoot us a quick email through our new contact form.

CCV’s online contact form will shave off seconds if not minutes when you need to send us an email. Fill out the open fields and BAM! Go on to the next interesting task in your life!

5) Volunteer for the CCV Summer Games

Want to be a Corporate Champion minus the sweat? Apply to become a volunteer and get access to our events while cheering on teams at Metro Vancouver’s largest corporate sport event! You can now check out the positions and fill out an application form online. Volunteer with CCV! 

Like or dislike the changes? Let us hear it!

Communication.

2) Fostering a positive team environment

After finding the right people and helping them to the “right seats,” what else can a manager do to encourage success? In both the sports arena and the workplace, reaching your goal is just as much of a mental game is it is a physical battle. Although it is unlikely for a leader to be able to control the results of a team, he or she can influence the environment in which the team operates in efforts to optimize performance.

But what characteristics should a coach strive to bring out in a team? Let’s take a closer look at the inner workings of the NBA team, Chicago Bulls, and the multi-million dollar search engine, Google.

The Bulls’ mission is to win the NBA Championships. Google’s goal is to excel in the realm of search. Both have a clear objective in sight that they are committed to. But hard work isn’t enough to guarantee a NBA title or a successful product. In fact, studies in human resources management will tell you that teams work best when there is open communication, team cohesion, and opportunity for creativity.

Open communication on a basketball court or in an office setting entails honest and respectful verbal and non-verbal communication. Without open communication, individuals lack efficiency and clarity. Moreover, individuals may begin harbouring negative sentiments and can even turn to talking behind other team-mates’ backs. This can deeply affect the cohesion of relationships and therefore lead to conflicts that hinder performance. Coaches and leaders can encourage open communication by taking the time to facilitate conversations between team-mates to reflect on how the team is working together and to reiterate the common goal.

Team cohesion can be visualized as the sticky glue that bonds team-mates together in a positive, conducive manner. Team-mates lacking cohesion typically think individualistically without considering their counterparts. As a result, the final product becomes a jumble of fragmented ideas. Leaders and coaches can enhance team cohesion by investing time in team-building activities that create positive interactions between individuals. The activities will also help team-mates become familiar with each other’s personalities and working styles in order to reduce future conflicts.

Although often taking for granted, creativity can shape some of the best decisions and ideas for success. Consider Google’s assortment of app innovations. Who would have ever thought we would be able to see a complete street view of places thousands of miles away? Google’s creative minds did. By giving individuals a sense of empowerment and encouraging suggestions, coaches and leaders can grow a creative environment for ideas to thrive in. Whether it be a new way to approach a business problem or an improved play to drive the ball to the hoop, it all begins with an idea.

Aside from these three principles, what else do the Chicago Bulls and Google have in common? Both teams believe that “Great just isn’t good enough.” It’s about getting to the top of the mountain and then moving on to the next highest peak. For teams that embody this attitude, the sky isn’t even the limit.

1. Finding the Right Talent for your Team

No one can deny that talent is a huge factor in the success of a team. That’s why it is integral for human resources or coaches to sift through candidates to find the right people for the job. However, there can also be negative implications if you get the right individuals but place them in the wrong positions.

Imagine if Wally Buono, the BC Lions head coach, had placed the 2011 CFL MVP Travis Lulay in the position of a defensive tackle instead of a quarterback. Or if an employee with a Master’s degree in finance was only given tasks in the realm of marketing to perform. Not to say that he or she would not be able to complete the job well, but there is still a cost associated with inefficiency from great talent being put to waste.

Instead, coaches and employers should take the time to identify the skills and strengths of each individual and to pair them up with the necessary roles accordingly. The challenge may be in how to accurately identify talent. Interviews, resumes, references, tryouts, and past player stats obviously shed a great deal of insight on what a person is capable of. However, it may also help to simply observe the employee at work or even to get to know them casually to allow their personality traits to shine through.

I should also appropriately make a point here that personality is just as important as the right skills. Working in a team environment calls for cohesion and compatibility. Therefore coaches and employers should ensure that an individual fits the culture of the team in order to avoid personal conflicts.

Great talent with an apt personality may be hard to come by, but if a winning team is what you seek sometimes it’s worth it to hold out until you find it. Similar to what Jim Collins wrote in his award-winning book, Good to Great, great companies “start by getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.”

Stay tuned as the #Teambuilding series continues. We’ll be revealing more secrets to a winning team each week.

1) NEW Sports - CCV has added three amazing sports to the 2012 Games.

Badminton - Due to popular demand, CCV will be hosting a Badminton Tournament at the CCV 2012 Summer Games! Companies will play in a team format where the first game is played by men’s doubles, the second game by women’s doubles, and the last game by mixed doubles. Start practicing those drop shots and smashes and be a part of CCV’s first-ever Badminton Tournament at the Richmond Olympic Oval!

Table Tennis - CCV is thrilled to introduce Table Tennis as a new CCV 2012 Summer Games sport! Similar to Badminton, Table Tennis will also be played in a team format. Don’t miss out on CCV’s first Table Tennis Tournament!

Stationary GranFondo - Calling all Spin enthusiasts, CCV 2012 Summer Games has now included a Stationary Granfondo competition for all of you! Teams will pedal in an endurance relay race with the goal to travel the farthest distance. Participants will be cycling on the Richmond Olympic Oval’s state-of-the-art stationary bikes. Get pedalling!

Click for more details on each event.

2) Changes to Referees, Scheduling, and Competition Levels

Referees - After taking in the feedback from the 2011 Games, CCV has decided to make some critical changes to referees. Almost all 2012 events will be self-refereed as suggested by participants. CCV trusts participants to act honestly and responsibly when making their own calls and hopes that by allowing games to be self-refereed, teams will be encouraged to demonstrate sportsmanship. Although there will be no officials for some events, there will be games supervisors and score-keepers to ensure that the games run smoothly.

Scheduling - Last year’s Canucks playoff run caused some major last-minute changes to the scheduling of the tournaments. This year, CCV plans move most events into one PACKED weekend of FUN at the Richmond Olympic Oval! This will limit the number of days that the hockey playoff games will interfere with the CCV Summer Games. Moreover, we’re expecting participants to get more out of this one spectacular weekend. Company teams in different sports will be able to cheer on one another at the same venue! Furthermore, the CCV team hopes to improve communication with participants and provide clear and updated information regarding schedules. However, it will still be the responsibility of team captains to ensure that their team is aware of their game schedule.

Competition Levels - From last year’s participants, we understand that the competition levels varied substantially in some events. CCV understands that this gap can affect a participant’s experience significantly. For 2012, many of our sports will feature a two-tier playoff format where more competitive teams will advance through Tier 1 and more recreational teams will advance through Tier 2.

3) New Basketball Format - To improve one of CCV’s classic tournaments, we will be changing the format of play from 4-on-4 half-court play to 5-on-5 full-court play. We hope that participants will get an enhanced basketball experience with this change.

All in all, the CCV team is excited for the upcoming year and the new changes! Stay in touch with CCV on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news.

We hope to see you all at the Corporate Champions Vancouver Summer Games 2012!

Like or dislike the new changes? Let us know by leaving a comment below!