FUZE Issue 4-07

Text Box: Last month we talked about RSS feeds. You may already be quite familiar with them and how handy they are to keep you informed. If you haven’t started using them yet, you might want to explore how they can add value to you.
Most websites providing RSS feeds also outline simple directions on how to subscribe. Here are a few you may find useful:
Canadian Business
Globe and Mail
CBC
Google News Canada
Canada Weather
TSN

Share Your Experience...
Email us with your feedback or any other feeds you’ve been
using that have been useful.

Text Box: Spring has sprung—the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and Winnipeggers are dreaming of the lake. You may have felt the affects of spring fever in your
organization—that undercurrent of excitement and anticipation for a well earned summer.
Now is a great time to regroup, celebrate the successes of the organization and revisit the direction your headed. Not only can it help to refocus everyone and keep the momentum going through the summer holiday season, it’s a break from the day-to-day.
Here are a few tips for a successful strategic retreat:
1. Get out of the office—if you want to spur creative ‘out of the box’ thinking you need to get out of the box you’re
operating in every day. Choose a location where you can get some fresh air or that has large windows that let the outside in.
2. Use the Sandwich Method– if you’ve ever been to a Toastmasters meeting you’ve heard of the Sandwich Method. They use it as a way of effectively critiquing a presentation. It starts with a positive comment, continues with where there is room for improvement and ends on another positive note. Structuring your strategic session this way will leave the team feeling motivated and
inspired.
3. Make it fun! - participation is important to really
uncovering creative solutions. The lighter the atmosphere the more open the group will be to push the limits and share ideas. Add variety with break out sessions and a few quick team building games if time allows.
4. Structure, structure, structure—the most unproductive, frustrating sessions are those that never meet a goal. We’ve all been to meetings like this where everyone is talking at once, nobody can remember the original topic and at the end of the day everyone leaves believing it was a waste of time. A well thought out and carefully timed
session is critical to it’s success.
A retreat might be just what your organization needs to set the stage for a productive summer and a strong start to the fall. If you are interested in having a facilitator plan and lead a strategic planning session call us to discuss your needs at
951-9803 or email us.

Article by the Static Interactive Team

Text Box: Duelling Barbers
A new hair salon opened up for business right across the street from the old established hair
cutters' place.

They put up a big bold sign which read:
"WE GIVE SEVEN DOLLAR HAIR CUTS!"
Not to be outdone, the old Master Barber put up his own sign:
"WE FIX SEVEN DOLLAR HAIR CUTS"

The Happy Boss

The boss returned from lunch in a good mood and called the whole staff in to listen to a couple of jokes he had picked up. Everybody, but one girl laughed uproariously.

"What's the matter?" grumbled the boss. "Haven't you got a sense of humour?"

"I don't have to laugh," she
replied. "I'm leaving Friday."

Text Box:
Your ability to negotiate, communicate, influence, and persuade others to do things is absolutely
indispensable to everything you accomplish in life. The most effective men and women in every area are those who can quite competently organize the cooperation and assistance of other people toward the
accomplishment of important goals and objectives.
Brian Tracy

Text Box: Chat Language Part II
Here are more chat acronyms you can use to surprise the kids in your life and totally annoy your co-workers—Enjoy!
HAGN - Have A Good Night
IMNSHO - In My Not So
Humble Opinion
JMO - Just My Opinion
NRN - No Reply Necessary
SOTMG - Short Of Time Must Go
:-9 - Delicious, Yummy
:-6 - Exhausted, Wiped Out