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Kick off the new year to shine in your job and steer your career where you want to go.
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Get professionally connected. Join an association or become more active with your existing memberships. Meet people you can learn from and add to your professional network. Plus, you’ll boost your own profile when your boss or client sees you as a leader among industry peers. See what’s out there on our events and associations page. |
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Keep track of your successes. Make your own “Top 10” list of work-related accomplishments of 2010, and start a file or database to track each and every success story in 2011 – all the things you do to help your business save money, woo clients, manage change and keep people happy. Not only is it a confidence-booster, it’s a great way to demonstrate your worth or keep your résumé fresh if you’re open to new opportunities. |
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Exercise your brain. If you’re a creature of habit, why not try something different to explore your creative side at work. Visual thinking and mind maps can help shake-out your thought process, navigate complex tasks or connect the dots to new ideas. Pen and paper still works great, but check out productivity tools and apps out there. We like the open source FreeMind that turns to-do lists into elegant “thought drawings.” |
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Laugh a little. In the face of austerity projects and power-trippers, confront the Dwight Shrutes of the office world with humour, and aim to always keep the mood light with colleagues and clients. Plus, research shows humour in the workplace is good for promoting creativity and solidarity. |
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Turn the page. “It sure ain’t like the old days,” veteran planners will note, and the past couple of years have been a pressure-cooker in most workplaces. But, best to forget about how it used to be, and get on with charting new ground and finding the new “best way” of doing things. From technology to business cycles to staffing, it’s better to stay on the bus than under it – even better if you can grab hold of the wheel. |
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BUSINESS MEETS LEISURE
Only two hours North of Toronto, the Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain is the perfect setting for your next meeting. Specializing in 80-100 person intimate and onsite meetings, our inspiring spaces and healthful menus will set you up for success. Learn more today
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The Special Event
When: Jan. 26-28, 2011
Where: Phoenix Convention Centre
Why go: It’s the world’s biggest tradeshow and conference for event pros, in a mid-winter destination that should help warm your creativity.
What’s in it for you: Be the first on your block to source unique products and services, and choose from 100 sessions and workshops. You can book preferred accommodations by Dec. 30, 2010 (be sure to shout-out to the Canadian nominees at the Gala Awards!)
More industry events at Ignitemag.ca
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INCENTIVES + MEETINGS
And the all-expense weekend goes to...
We love the sense of mischievous fun tech firm Titus Labs displayed in announcing an incentive travel winner recently. While celebrating a successful year at a local pub event, the company’s chief executive announced the winner of a four-day January weekend at an upscale resort in Varadero, Cuba: a certain VP who became quite vocal and “obnoxious” to be the chosen one, as recounted in this Ottawa Business Journal article. But, nah! The drama was a ruse to rile everyone up: the real incentive winners were revealed: The whole company, and all 54 Ottawa employees of the technology firm and their spouses were sent packing. |
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CORPORATE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT
Travel manager salaries in growth mode
After a decline in 2009, average total compensation for travel and meeting management professionals increased 5% this year to US$96,851 including bonuses and commissions, according to an NBTA Foundation survey of 250 National Business Travel Association members working in Canada and the U.S. The survey, fielded in September and October 2010, found that 63% of travel and meeting professionals characterized themselves as satisfied with their current compensation levels, up from 56% last year. The average respondent reported 15 years of experience in managing travel, with an average of seven years at his or her current position. Read more details here. |
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CORPORATE GIFTS + REWARDS
Canadians go local on gifts for work
A study from BMO Bank of Montreal released this week found that 50 per cent of Canadians plan to support local businesses when gift buying for work. The survey also found that roughly six in 10 customers said better customer service would influence where they shop this season. |
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| Share your event news, case studies or story ideas with us here at ignitemag.ca. |
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Help get this (political) party started
If you’re looking to establish a hands-on role in the political process, the Liberal Party of Canada is seeking an Event Coordinator, Executive Secretariat in Ottawa. Duties will include the upcoming Biennial Convention in Ottawa, as well in assisting the Grits in the next election campaign. View the job description posted here on MPI’s career site. |
It is okay to surf Workopolis in this job
If you’re an ambitious EA who has ever browsed Workopolis to find the next rung in your career, the online career site is now advertising for a Senior Administrative Professional to assist its president and senior management team. Based in Toronto’s trendy King Street West area, the job comes packed with perks like RSP contributions and tuition reimbursement. More details here. |
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