Leadership Spring 2015

Leadership UIT Spring 2015

Leadership in the Year of Sport Empowering sport organizations through strong leadership Leadership SIRCuit - Spring 2015 Version franรงaise

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Empowering sport organizations through strong leadership

WHAT’S INSIDE - Spring 2015 THE YEAR OF SPORT IN CANADA: An Opportunity for us all

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ONLINE MEETINGS: From Webinars to Staff Updates, What You Need to Know

The Changing Sport Workplace

Revenue Generation in Sport

Working in the Cloud

Leadership in the Community: Working Together to Educate

ŒUVRER ENSEMBLEEditor

The Year of Sport in Canada: An Opportunity for us all

Martin Boileau, Director General, Sport Canada, challenges Canadian sport organizations to improve the sport system and generate sustainable success.

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Debra Gassewitz, SIRC

À FORMER LES GENS À TRAVERS LE PAYS Bras, Conseil du sport d’Ottawa Content Online Meetings: From Webinars to Staff Updates, What Kristopher You Need to Know Online meetings – the Pros and Cons Tips for Managing Effective Online Meetings

The Changing Sport Workplace

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, SIRC râce à une quantité d’outils de communication innovants,Nancy il y a de Rebel nombreuses manières pour les Michelle Caron , SIRC conseils des organismes sans but lucratif d’aider les membres des organismes de sport communautaire.

Lorsque nous avons eu l’idée de créer des webinaires éducatifs et de les rendre disponibles dans tout le Canada, nous avons sollicité la collaboration du Centre de documentation pour le sport (SIRC) afin de réaliser le projet.

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Le paysage des communications en évolution constante

applications modernes de l’Internet ont changé notre façon Organizations are exploring alternative workplace structures to meet theLes trend of a decentralized de travailler. Des outils de gestion de projet aux plateformes des réseaux sociaux, les organismes ont de plus en plus de moyens pour workforce. Explore the trends, challenges and best practices of the communiquer changing workplace. avec leurs membres, au bureau et sur la route. Les

Working in the Cloud

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conséquences sur les modalités de fonctionnement des conseils du sport municipal sont importantes. On peut non seulement accroître la visibilité du travail de formation et de représentation, mais aussi partager des ressources avec des organismes apparentés dans tout le pays, un avantage présentement sous-utilisé à notre avis.

Cloud computing adds a flexible dimension to organizational work processes. We take a look at some of En tant que Conseil d’un organisme sans but lucratif, notre rôle the pros and cons of using cloud technology to manage your electronic data. consiste à favoriser un environnement sportif de qualité dans

Revenue Generation in Sport

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la capitale nationale par la formation, la représentation et la sensibilisation. Dans cet exercice, l’inclusion demeure à jamais l’une de nos valeurs fondamentales. Ainsi, dès la prise de décision d’enrichir notre programme de formations en ligne, nous avons contacté les représentants municipaux et les organes de direction des sports dans tout le pays. Le but des webinaires est d’accroître la capacité de leadership des entraîneurs d’équipe et des administrateurs en leur présentant des thèmes connus et nouveaux au moyen d’une plateforme permettant dans l’immédiat les rétroactions et les discussions.

Marketing sport properties to generate revenue - Developing a Sponsorship Program

Leadership in the Community: Working Together to Educate a Nation

The Ottawa Sport Council elaborates on their project to increase the leadership capacity of team coaches and executives within their community through webinar technology.

How Are You Getting Your 10,000 Steps?

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14 Stimuler les organisations sportives par un solide leadership

Many of us aren’t getting our full allotment of activity during the day. Check out some resources on how to get those additional opportunities to get a few more steps into your day.

Version française

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Design

Josyane Morin

Trouver le partenaire idéal

La tenue de ces webinaires s’avérait délicate à démarrer, mais grâce aux subventions de la Fondation Trillium de l’Ontario et du Département du développement économique et Innovation de la Ville d’Ottawa, nous avons eu les ressources nécessaires pour nous associer à une superbe organisation.

Nos besoins étant variables, nous voulions un modérateur qui pouvait offrir une expérience conviviale et nous procurer, à nous et à nos conférenciers, un leadership horizontal et une orientation tout en prenant en compte notre mandat et notre vision. Nous sommes heureux d’avoir obtenu les services complets de webinaires du SIRC.

Translation

Marcel Nadeau

Special Thanks Sport Canada: Martin Boileau Rebeccah Bornemann Steve Parker Canadian Olympic Committee: Gene Edworthy Grâce à l’expérience de plus de 40 ans du SIRC dans la formation Derek Kent des associations nationales du sport, nous avons pu développer une Ottawa Sport Council: planification de thèmes pratiques incluant des sujets allant de Twitter pour simplifier la Mise en candidature jusqu’à la Tenue d’événements sportifs.

Marci Morris La réalisation de ce projet a été rendue possible avec l’aide experte du Kristopher Bras ParticipACTION Cover photo credit: Balint Vekassy courtesy of CanoeKayak Canada

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THE YEAR OF SPORT IN CANADA:

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US ALL MARTIN BOILEAU,

Director General, Sport Canada

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hen His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada proclaimed 2015 as the Year of Sport in Canada, he created an opportunity for us all to celebrate sport in Canada. From local playgrounds, to recreational sport leagues, to our high performance athletes, sport is a valued component of the cultural fabric of our nation.

Canadians are inspired by the successes of our athletes on the world stage. The incredible performances of our athletes – from the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to the numerous world championships and other international events - are a great source of pride and motivation for all Canadians, especially our young people. Our Canadian sport system, and all of its stakeholders, has been successful in supporting our athletes to reach their potential on the biggest stages in sport.

Like our athletes, organizations across the Canadian sport community need to be continually looking for ways to sustain our high level of performance. We all need to ask ourselves: how can we keep getting better?

How do we learn from our successes and build on our strengths in order to continuously improve the system and generate sustainable success for years to come?

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The Year of Sport provides the motivation and a platform for us all to tackle these important questions. While 2015 presents an opportunity to highlight the benefits of sport and to celebrate Canadian sport excellence, it is also an opportunity to take stock of state of the system and examine how each organization contributes.

It is an ideal time for us to consider what has worked well and what could be improved upon.

“We work in a complex and ever-changing environment. It takes deliberate effort by organizations to actively seek ways to improve and strengthen operations to better serve their athletes, coaches, officials, and membership.”

We work in a complex and ever-changing environment.

It takes deliberate effort by organizations to actively seek ways to improve and strengthen operations to better serve their athletes, coaches, officials, and membership.

For some organizations, this proactive approach is already a part of their ongoing business.

For others, finding new ways to conduct their business may be absolutely necessary as they realise that the “status quo” is not producing the outcomes that they are seeking. The majority of organizations probably sit somewhere between the two.

Empowering sport organizations through strong leadership

At Sport Canada, we also face the need to innovate and adapt to improve and sustain results. We are committed to continuously seeking ways to support the organizations that comprise our sport system and to strengthen the system itself. As such, Sport Canada is currently undergoing various processes to review our operations and identify and implement innovative changes that allow us to to best serve our Canadians and to maximize the impacts of our investments to serve and support Canada’s national sport system organizations.

The government-wide Blueprint 2020 initiative seeks to deliver on a vision for an agile, effective, and efficient Public Service that is equipped to serve Canadians now and in the future. The department’s grants and contributions process has been modernized to allow for easier application processes,

shorter assessment times, and quicker payments to clients. We are also in the process of upgrading our mail and information management systems and increasingly using online tools for internal collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Externally, organizations will have noticed changes to the implementation of the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF) and the improved guidelines and forms related to the submission of annual contribution applications.

With numerous national championships and 60 international sport events hosted on Canadian soil throughout the year, including the Canada Winter Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, the Year of Sport provides many opportunities for Canadians to participate and experience the benefits of sport.

I challenge all Canadian sport organizations to take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and to ensure that they are doing all that they can to support the development of their sport in our country.

“We all have the opportunity to make Canadian sport even better, including how we manage and operate our organizations.”

In 2015, we all have the opportunity to make Canadian sport even better, including how we manage and operate our organizations. Sport Canada will continue to focus on strengthening the sport system and sport organizations by supporting good governance, ethical doping-free sport, diversification of funding sources, collaboration, strong leadership, and innovation. We will focus on embedding Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) in the system and supporting organizations to deliver the foundations for sport development and the development pathway for their sport.

We know that some good progress has been made, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

Action for sports: Find innovative ways to strengthen and enhance the governance, operations, programs, and services of your organization

Encourage Canadians to experience the benefits of your sport, as a participant or a volunteer

This year, let’s all celebrate sport in Canada together. ∆

#YearofSport Web: Canada.ca/Sport Twitter: @SportCanada_EN Facebook: facebook.com/ SportCanadaEN Flickr: flickr.com/sportcanada

Version française

Publicly celebrate your sport and your achievements to build momentum that can last for years

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Online Meetings: From Webinars to Staff Updates, What You Need to Know Virtual Meetings

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he landscape of the typical office environment has changed vastly. While some offices retain the traditional shape and structure others have adapted to suit new configurations and new ways of doing business. Technology has played a large role in many of these changes and one of the spaces where it is making an impact is the context of meetings. While many work environments continue to have all staff on-site and continue to schedule in-person meetings, some offices have branch locations, remote contractors or even exist completely in the virtual work space. So how do they maintain effective and efficient communication when not everyone is in one place?

We are going to take a look at the pros and cons of online/virtual meetings.

A virtual meeting is an event that takes place in a space other than a physical face-to-face location (teleconference, videoconferencing, web-based meetings). Here we look at why these virtual scenarios present an advantage over face-to-face meetings: • Connects people in multiple locations.

• Allows for connections across all time zones.

• Cuts down hosting costs (travel, room booking, catering, etc).

• Meetings can be more flexible with people logging in and out with minimal disturbance of other attendees.

• With web-based meetings, all attendees can see visual presentations and materials. Users can also share their desktops so that collaborative work can be done.

• New technologies allow for different types of interactions (texting, social media, downloads, etc).

• Allows for networking and brainstorming.

• Equipment required can be as simple as a smartphone or tablet.

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However, there are some concerns that must be taken into consideration when using a virtual meeting environment: • You cannot recreate that real human faceto-face interaction.

• Meanings, contexts, and nuances of body language may be lost if the audience cannot see the presenter/speaker.

• It is sometimes harder to think creatively when you cannot fully exprience other participants.

• Controlling who is speaking is often harder in a virtual environment.

• It is harder to control background noises and disturbances.

• You may be dependent on third-party software to host the meeting and limited to what is available/affordable.

• Different technical and equipment competencies can affect attendees’ abilities to participate effectively.

• Bandwidth differs between connections and may not allow all attendees to participate to the same level.

Empowering sport organizations through strong leadership

• Technical issues may not be readily solvable.

• Difficult to control attention levels. The virtual nature may induce participants to attempt multitasking.

• Difficult to control attendance. Easy to enter and step away from virtual meetings.

While technologies are still changing and improving, many organizations are seeing the benefits of both sides of the coin. They see the value in incorporating a mix of face-to-face and virtual meeting scenarios to respond the varying goals of meeting outcomes. ∆

Tips for Managing Effective Online Meetings

SIRC’s Online Learning Resources

Managing an effective meeting is mostly the same online as in-person, but there are a few extra things you need to know to be effective online: Send out a clear and concise agenda for the meeting. Have a scheduled start and finish time.

Have a clear outcome for the meeting.

Take differing time zones into account when planning the meeting time.

Set out clear ground rules for meeting etiquette (login 15 minutes in advance to update software/connect audio, microphone muting, speaking rules, etc.).

Webinars:

Creating a Communications Plan

Send out meeting documents for review well in advance and include the expectation of pre-meeting review clearly.

As meeting host, practice with the software in advance to make sure that you are familiar with all the components and technology.

Conduct a dry run with those making presentations so they are also familiar with the technology and the environment.

Total Compensation Study (Salaries in Sport)

Separate the role of meeting facilitator and technical support.

Login an hour to half an hour before the meeting to test all systems.

Have a back-up plan if the technology fails.

Keep the participants focused during the meeting by encouraging engagement.

Don’t go more than 10-15 minutes without including participant interactions.

Bidding & Hosting Sport Events 101

Use online features such as slides, polls, Q&A or Chat modules, whiteboards, file shares, etc. to promote participant interaction. Make sure you are using them for a reason not just for glitz.

If you are hosting Board or Committee meetings make sure you understand the legal issues and consequences of conducting these types of meeting online (do your bylaws allow for online meetings, can you record the meeting, etc.)

References Virtual Meetings Will Erase Face to Face. Pro: The Same Event for Less. Con: Can’t Replace Face to Face Pros and Cons of Virtual Meetings Running an Effective Teleconference or Virtual Meeting 5 Tips to Make Online Meetings Run Smoothly 10 Tips for Keeping Control of Your Online Meetings 10 Tips for Running Online Meetings

Version française

Meeting Management

Looking for more? Check out SIRC’s other webinar resources.

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THE CHANGING

SPORT WORKPLACE

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ith the increasing growth of technology, the traditional method of going to work at a central office is rapidly changing. Alternative workplace programs are on the rise as organizations are embracing remote offices, settings and locations. This movement towards a decentralized workforce can be an exciting time for companies to explore new opportunities and methods of running their offices. By providing clear objectives, open communication, and more flexibility, organizations have better chances of recruiting and retaining top talent that focuses on knowledge sharing, forming ideas, and better performance.

TRENDS:

• Technology makes it easy for people to work from home therefore more people expect that remote work is an option at new jobs.

• Focus on deliverables instead of total hours worked.

• Companies are occupying smaller offices and using their spaces more creatively.

• Traditional hierarchical configurations are ‘flattening’ to focus on collaborative team efforts.

• Offices are providing areas that promote ‘creative collisions’ - unplanned interactions between employees both inside and outside the organization improving performance and creating a culture focused on knowledge transfer.

• Community office spaces – Remote workers are seeking out community office space that makes them feel less isolated and more productive. With a group of people from very different backgrounds or companies working side by side this inevitably leads to new connections, knowledge sharing and learning.

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POSITIVES:

• New offices are making efforts to create a mobile space that caters to both introverts and extroverts. Many include spots for open conversations and creative ideas to form as well as providing spaces for quiet work and contemplation.

• Mobile generally means that there are no fixed desks or places to work, employees have the ability to choose where they want to be and who they wish to be surrounded by. This type of set up encourages diverse and collaborative interactions with other teams within the organization.

• Studies have shown employees are more productive when they are allowed to work from home. They take fewer breaks, less sick days and tend to work more since they save time commuting.

• Organizations can save money by cutting down on office space needs when not all employees require office space every day.

• When your employees have more flexibility, they feel empowered to manage their own schedule and deliverables; this positively affects the final product and the organization.

Empowering sport organizations through strong leadership

CHALLENGES:

• Lack of office culture or social time may result in feelings of isolation.

• Less brainstorming opportunities stemming from casual conversation (creative colliding) • Tech support can be difficult to obtain and internet/wifi connections may be unreliable.

• Office supplies such as scanners/fax machines, photocopiers, etc. are not always readily available or may take time to set up.

• More autonomy for employees may mean less control of employee accountability.

• Individuals working remotely may lack the opportunity to build relationships with coworkers and may tend to get overlooked for advancement.

Additional Reading

1 Why are we so afraid

of changing our office space?

2 Why you should redesign your office for introverts

3 What is co-working?

4 How telecommuting works

5 Advantages of

telecommuting for companies: costs and benefits

“When your employees have more flexibility, they feel empowered to manage their own schedule and deliverables”

BEST PRACTICES:

• When creating a new space, allow for employee suggestions.

• Create group nooks where people can meet and speak privately and comfortably.

Include white boards to encourage spontaneous brainstorming.

• Design with the mindset that some people work better in a group and others on their own; create space that is welcoming to both.

• Having the ability to unwind is essential, whether that includes a lounge, fitness, or quiet reflective space.

• Offer employees the opportunity to form their own schedule according to how they work best. Provide options for physical workspaces, remote or on-site; flexibility keeps top talent.

• Focus on concrete deliverables and quality work done in a timely manner, instead of hours. ∆

Version française

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Working in The Cloud

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any organizations find themselves working within different structures and are looking for innovative ways to collaboratively work on documents and projects. This can be especially challenging when not all the parties involved with a project are working from the same physical location. How can projects/programs continue to move forward in these types of environments? We hear the phrase ‘cloud computing’ thrown out there as a way to establish this collaborative work environment, but what does it really mean?

When we talk about “The Cloud”, we are referring to the Internet. When we talk about “Cloud Computing”, we are talking about using the Internet as a platform to store, access and modify information rather than using a computer hard drive. Without realizing it, many people use cloud computing already, for example, Google applications (gmail or google docs) or any kind of social media platform. All of these types of scenarios are connected via internet, anytime, anyplace with all (unlimited) storage, updates, backups, etc., provided by the host company. It is usable across all platforms, mobile, desktop, tablet with a username and password.

As with any change in operational function, if an organization is considering adopting a cloud computing environment for any or all of their business, it is important to weigh all the elements of how this type of communication works. Here we will take a quick look at some of the things to be taken into consideration in the cloud computing world.

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Have an Idea for a Knowledge Nugget?

Submit it to SIRC* *be sure to include your source info@sirc.ca

“Quisque metus nulla, congue ac tortor non, egestas tincidunt nulla. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Quisque metus nulla, congue ac tortor non, egestas tincidunt nulla.”

PROS

CONCERNS

PROS

• Low cost, pay as you go, one-time payment options.

Traditional software, updates, licenses, etc. can be costly for small organizations. The cloud is generally available at much cheaper rates.

• For smaller organizations cloud computing opens up the option for the IT department to focus on bigger, company led projects rather than the day-to-day operations of data management.

• Almost unlimited storage options. Gets rid of the cost of buying storage, no risk of running out of storage.

• Backup and recovery is easier. The user may be responsible for backup, but for most cloud computing options, the host will provide backup and recovery options.

• Easy access to information. Since cloud storage is available on the internet, you can access your information anywhere you have an established internet connection. This means that geographical locations and time zones will not interfere with accessing your information.

• Speed and ease of use. Once an organization decides to switch to cloud computing, the switch is fast and easy. An organization can be set up and accessing the cloud in a matter of a few minutes.

• Privacy/security. Your information will be stored via a third party service provider. By researching different cloud service providers, you may be able to mitigate this problem by choosing the most reliable providers to keep your information secure. (For more check out this article in Forbes).

• Technical problems/connectivity. May be prone to technical problems such as outages. You will need to have a solid internet connection in order to be logged into the server at all times.

• Risk of losing commercially sensitive material • It may not be the best option for everyone. Some organizations have specific security and performance requirements.

• Technical savvy. Not all employees have the same comfort level or knowledge level of computer applications.

• File Management. When working in a collaborative environment, establishing clarity and efficiency of storage is essential in order to maintain and provide a productive work environment. ∆

• Centralized access to corporate information makes succession planning and knowledge transfer easier.

• Ownership of intellectual property. Storage in a central place clears up the confusion over material created for business use versus personal (no storage of files on laptops or desktops when it is business related).

• Software updates. When using the cloud to provide software access, it means all employees are working on the same version.

Version française

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SIRC-COC WEBINARS:

REVENUE GENERATION DEVELOPING YOUR SPONSORSHIP PLAN WEBINAR SUMMARY PRESENTER:

Greg Stremlaw, CEO, Curling Canada Mark Rubinstein, President and CEO, Alpine Canada Alpin Kevin Gilmore, Senior VP and COO, Montréal Canadiens

MODERATORS:

Gene Edworthy, Chair, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) Revenue Generation & Marketing Committee Debra Gassewitz, President & CEO, SIRC

GREG STREMLAW The CEO of Curling Canada outlined their revenue generation strategy as it relates to their major competitive events. The Season of Champions™ portfolio has created unprecedented value for Curling Canada and its commercial partners.

Two key strategic decisions that have enabled their incredible growth: 1) Packaging their events into a portfolio...

Allowed Curling Canada to guarantee total impressions for sponsors, knowing that if one event under-performed the others could make up the difference 2) Ensuring professional management of their key events...

Makes certain that Curling Canada’s everincreasing event management standards are met and that the talents and energy of volunteers are deployed appropriately.

MARK RUBINSTEIN

KEVIN GILMORE

The President and CEO of Alpine Canada Alpin discussed his view of revenue generation in sport, informed by his experience at ACA as well as in sport media. Mark has developed a “3 C’s” approach to revenue generation; Content, Community, and Commerce.

NSFs and rights holders need to create and deliver content, build and reward community and connect sponsors and donors with that community. Mark also discussed the success of Red Bull and outlined how their events are designed to capture the 3 C’s nearly perfectly, with the user and partner experience at the heart of all they do. They understand that it is better to be the story than to be the ad that runs alongside the story – the key to success in content marketing.

The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Montréal Canadiens discussed the challenge of growing revenue when revenue appears to have nowhere to grow.

Kevin’s challenge when he joined the Canadiens was to create new markets, new fans and new sources of revenue for a team that has been sold out since 2004, has no more sponsorship inventory left to sell and has a long term TV contract in place. Kevin and his team decided to look at the Canadiens not as “a hockey team” (Le Club du Hockey Canadien) but instead as “hockey’s team” (Le Club du Hockey), carrying the mantle of the sport in the way that the Yankees do for baseball or the Cowboys do for football. By expanding the view of their place, the Canadiens have opened up new markets and found new ways to connect with their fans – all leading to new revenue streams. For NSFs, the challenge of growing the business outside the core set of fans and members can be tough. The Canadiens’ strategy of intentional growth outside of the core fan group has allowed them to do things differently and avoid the “rinse and repeat” cycle of revenue generation that had marked the team for some time in the mid 2000’s. ∆

THE NUMBER

24.5%

Of respondents to the Sponsorship Landscape Study indicated that demonstrating Return on Investment (ROI) was what kept them up at night

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REALIZING OUR POTENTIAL WEBINAR SUMMARY PRESENTER:

Norm O’Reilly, Richard and Joan S. Fox Professor of Sport Management, Ohio University

CASE STUDIES:

Dan Thompson, CEO, Skate Canada Penny Joyce, COO, Diving Canada

MODERATORS:

Gene Edworthy, Chair, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) Revenue Generation & Marketing Committee Debra Gassewitz, President & CEO, SIRC

DR. NORM O’REILLY Dr. Norm O’Reilly presented the foundations of developing a sponsorship plan.

Highlights: • Know your growth drivers & growth inhibitors. Know yourself & what assets you have available.

• Any successful promotion, from a corporate perspective, will make consumers Aware, generate Interest, create Desire, and ultimately lead to Action.

• Highlights from the Sport Sponsorship Landscape Study: • Total industry trend in sponsorship indicates that total spend will soon hit the $3 billion mark • Amateur sport comprises over 19% of sponsorship activity in Canada • Sponsors want “extra” and value added activations and servicing.

• Festivalization (or Disneyfication) is a driver of sponsor value by creating a focused environment.

CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY

Penny Joyce, COO Diving Canada: The challenge of developing sponsorship for foreign access.

• Diving Canada’s events have excellent television numbers in China and would like to use that presence to develop a sponsorship base in a foreign market.

• Dr. O’Reilly: Some NSOs have had success in securing sponsorship from a foreign country that was aimed at visibility in that country. The need for activation doesn’t change.

• What about tv and broadcast access for smaller sports, especially in between Olympic Games?

• Dr. O’Reilly: Even relatively large organizations are paying production costs for tv coverage. Sustained audiences of over 100,000 viewers are often required to gain attention from networks.

• Diving Canada consistently webcasts its events, but is finding that audiences are plateauing • Dr. O’Reilly: While it is clear that digital is the future, there is currently uncertainty in this technology.

Sponsorship activation can be an important tool to drive people to a webcast.

Dan Thompson, CEO Skate Canada: Shifting the focus of the sponsorship program away from Events and towards Programs. Skate Canada wants to create 365 day a year communication platforms for its partners, through its ongoing programs.

• Dr. O’Reilly: Great approach to programming; festivalization of Skate Canada events can bring in bigger audiences on site, & create truly unique experiences for both sponsors & participants.

• Dr. O’Reilly: Performance must be protected at all times. This applies to both athletes and NSOs, working hard to become a star performer must come before sponsorship. Compromising corporate or athletic performance in favour of sponsorship is never a good trade off. ∆

Version française

THE NUMBER

40%

Of people in G8 countries alter their purchase intent based on support of their country’s national teams at the Olympic Games

Leadership SIRCuit - Spring 2015

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Leadership in the Community WORKING TOGETHER TO EDUCATE A NATION

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Kristopher Bras, Ottawa Sport Council

hanks to a host of innovative communications tools, there are many new ways for non-profit sport councils to assist their community sport organization members. When we decided to create a series of educational webinars — and make it available across Canada — we turned to Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) to help us execute the idea.

The evolving communications landscape

Finding the perfect partner

As a non-profit sport council, our role is to facilitate a quality sporting environment in our nation’s capital through education, advocacy and awareness. In accomplishing that, inclusiveness will always be one of our core values. So when we decided to expand our online educational portfolio, we took the initiative to connect with governing sport bodies across the country—not just municipal stakeholders. Featuring both familiar and modern topics, the purpose of the webinars was to increase the leadership capacity of team coaches and executives—from a platform that allows for immediate feedback and discussion.

Utilizing SIRC’s 40-plus years of experience educating national sport associations, we developed a practical content plan—with topics ranging from Twitter Made Easy to Bidding and Hosting Sport Events 101. Their production was something we never could have accomplished without

Modern internet applications have changed the way we work. From project management tools to social media platforms, it’s never been easier for organizations to communicate with their members—both at work and on the go. This has profound implications for how municipal sport councils operate. Not only can we increase the visibility of our educational and advocacy work, but we also have the opportunity to share resources with like-minded organizations across the country—a benefit that we feel is currently underutilized.

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Hosting the webinars was an intimidating project to undertake, but thanks to funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the City of Ottawa’s Economic Development and Innovation Department, we had the resources to choose a great organization to partner with.

Our needs were lofty; we wanted a moderator that could produce a userfriendly experience, and provide horizontal leadership and guidance to us and our guest speakers—with special consideration to our mandate and vision. We were pleased to choose SIRC’s comprehensive webinar services.

Ottawa Sport Council Webinar Series the expertise of SIRC at our disposal. Whether it was fine-tuning for technical precision or preparing guest speakers to present, the SIRC team took full responsibility for the success of the project—from ideation to execution. This provided a huge value not only to us, but anyone who accesses the resources in the future.

Twitter Made Easy

Making an impact, from coast to coast

With as many as 50 attendees per session—including employees from the Montreal Alouettes and the Government of Alberta—we provided educational value to current stakeholders, and created new relationships with sport councils across the nation. The response was so positive that we’ve already scheduled a new set of programs to take place in the fall, coinciding with other Q3 offerings such as our Annual Sport Summit in November.

I’m a Coach - Now What? - Understanding Your Legal Obligations

If our webinar series is any indication, we’re only beginning to explore the many ways that sport organizations across the country can collaborate to build a cost-effective library of learning resources. And although the practical application of internet technologies might seem intimidating to people who spend most of their time at the rink or the football field, it’s reassuring to know that SIRC will be there to simplify the process, helping us create fun, safe athletic environments—that everyone can enjoy. ∆

Bidding & Hosting Sport Events 101

Coaches – Nutrition and your Team For more information contact the Ottawa Sport Council: Marcia Morris Executive Director Ottawa Sport Council marci@sportottawa.ca http://sportottawa.ca @SportOttawa Version française

Leadership SIRCuit - Spring 2015

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HOW ARE YOU GETTING YOUR

10,000 Steps?

Many of us aren’t getting our full allotment of activity during the day. Check out some resources on how to get those additional opportunities to get a few more steps into your day.

FIT IN FITNESS!

Everyone knows that physical activity is essential for your health and well-being – most of us have the desire to be more active but tend to get bogged down in the hecticness of everyday life. While many people cite ‘lack of time’ to be the main culprit for sedentary lifestyles, studies have shown there are other factors that contribute such as a lack of motivation and enjoyment, negative associations to do with exercise, fear and sometimes a low self-esteem. One of the hardest things people face with changing a habit is sticking with that habit after their initial enthusiasm dies down. So once you’ve decided to make a change, how do you go about it?

• Have a workout plan • Make Fitness a Priority • Sneak in Physical Activity at Home and at Work Read the full SIRC BLOG

WHEN DOES A ROUTINE BECOME A HABIT?

Creating good habits such as exercising regularly or eating a well-balanced diet is something we should all strive to do; these habits lead to a healthier lifestyle. According to the health belief model, people who believe that certain behaviors are healthy are more likely to engage in those behaviours. How are habits formed? Creating a healthy routine of exercising on a regular basis can help make it a customary part of your life. Developing a plan can help you get started.

Read the SIRC BLOG

PARTICIPACTION SUGGESTS …

25 WAYS TO BE MORE ACTIVE DURING THE WORKDAY!

Unfortunately, most of our days are spent sitting at our desks or sitting in our cars, resulting in abysmally low physical activity levels. Research has revealed that this sedentary behaviour is harmful to our health and lowers our productivity. At ParticipACTION we are on a mission to get Canadians up and moving. Read more.

16 Empowering sport organizations through strong leadership

#YearofSport By the Numbers

28

(approx.) national collegiate and university single sport championships to be hosted in 2015

55

(approx.) national single-sport championships hosted annually by National Sport Organizations

60

(approx.) international single-sport events to be hosted in Canada in 2015

2400

athletes participated in the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC (source: Canada Games 2015)

20,000

volunteers needed to deliver the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am (source: TO 2015)

50,000+ volunteer coaches in school sport (mostly teachers)

4.8

million

registered participants, from community level to national teams, reported to Sport Canada by funded National Sport Organizations

Version franรงaise

Leadership SIRCuit - Spring 2015

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sirc.ca/newsletter/sign-up Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) is Canada’s national sport library, established over 40 years ago.

Mailing address: SIRC 180 Elgin Street, Suite 1400 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 2K3 Tel: +1 (613) 231-7472 Fax: +1 (613) 231-3739 info@sirc.ca

for more information and resources

sirc.ca/governance Disclaimer: Author’s opinions expressed in the articles are not necessarily those of SIRCuit, its publisher, the Editor, or the Editorial Board. SIRC makes no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness or suitability for any purpose of the content.

Copyright © 2015 SIRC. All rights reserved.

No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored, transmitted, or disseminated, in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from SIRC, to whom all requests to reproduce copyright material should be directed, in writing.

Photo’s courtesy of Sport Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canoe Kayak Canada/Balint Vekassy (Cover photo: Cameron Smedley, Canada) For more information: info@sirc.ca

18 Empowering sport organizations through strong leadership