Creative Improv for Member Retention and Board Development

When:  Sep 8, 2021 from 12:30 PM to 01:30 PM (CT)

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the principles of improvisation
  • Contrast the difference between divergent thinking and convergent thinking
  • Implement the divergent thinking process
  • Implement the convergent thinking process

Summary

Non-Profit Board of Directors should rethink how they come up with new ideas for their organizations. During brainstorming sessions, we criticize while we are trying to create, which is the wrong approach. Phrases like "we can do that," "we have tried that before, and it didn't work," or "we don't have the resources to pull that off" kill the creative process.

The cure is to break the brainstorming process into two parts: divergent thinking and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the accumulation of all ideas without dialogue or critique—quantity over quality. Convergent thinking is assessing the ideas to see which one could be viable. This breaking apart the traditional brainstorming method is accomplished by adopting an improviser's mindset.

An improviser's mindset during the divergent thinking process is to agree and add to the idea. This is achieved by responding Yes! And, not No Because or Yes But. It is also by creating an environment that accepts all ideas without scrutiny, especially bad ideas. In improv, we say, "bad ideas are bridges its good ideas and no ideas lead to nothing.

This session with show you how to use the divergent thinking process to get the maximum number of ideas. Also, learn how this same process works during the convergent thinking process.

Presenter
Peter Margaritas, CSP, C.P.A.

Peter Margaritis, CSP, C.P.A. is a virtual and in-person speaker, improv virtuoso, podcaster, and the author of “Improv Is No Joke: Using Improvisation to Create Positive Results in Leadership and in Life” and “Taking The Numb Out of Numbers: Explaining and Presenting Financial Information with Confidence and Clarity.” Peter has a master’s degree in Accountancy from Case Western Reserve University, and he is a licensed, non-practicing, CPA in Ohio. Peter has worked for companies such as Price Waterhouse, Victoria’s Secret Catalogue (not as a model), and Ohio Dominican University. Peter has earned the highest credential of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) from the National Speakers Association and he is one of only 53 CSPs & CPAs in the Association. Peter is a past chairman of the Ohio Society of CPAs executive board and is a past president of the NSA Ohio chapter.  

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Message from the 2024 Women's Forum Subcommittee Chair

Caley Mutrie, CAE, IOM

The WSAE Women’s Forum is excited to present its third annual conference: Leading Out Loud. This conference will unite women and allies in the association, nonprofit, and hospitality industries. 

Terry Pearce coined "Leading Out Loud" in his 1995 book Leading Out Loud: Inspiring Change Through Authentic Communications. When we lead out loud, we communicate authentically from the inside out. And that's what the 2024 WSAE Women's Forum is about - bringing our authentic selves together for a day of sharing, listening, learning from each other's wisdom and experience, and creating genuine connections. 

When we lead out loud, we use our voices to create opportunities and shift perspectives. When we speak up and take risks, we free ourselves of limiting societal norms and the roles we've absorbed throughout our lives and careers from gender stereotyping. As aspiring and seasoned leaders alike, it is our responsibility to ourselves and each other to stop downplaying our experiences and opinions and support and inspire each other to find and raise our voices. 

Building on the success and learnings of the 2022 and 2023 Women's Forums, this year's Forum will focus on leadership and career development, expanding our influence as leaders in our communities, becoming more assertive in our communications, leveraging the mentor/mentee relationship for personal and organizational benefit, learning from each other how to handle complex and challenging situations that confront us in our professional lives every day, and the importance of wellness, managing stress and caring for ourselves.

This year's Women's Forum will create space for consequential discussions, motivating us to tap into our unique inner voices and raise them for personal and collective benefit in the workplace, our homes, our communities, and our hearts and minds. This year's program is a day-long conversation between our presenters, facilitators, and you. So, ask your questions and share your experiences and successes as we inspire each other to raise our voices and lead out loud. 

Don't wait! Please register today and plan to join us for what will be an engaging and much-anticipated program!