ISP Sports Academy
ISP set forth seven objectives in order to accomplish the company’s stated mission. One of these seven is to develop an atmosphere within the company that will foster good relationships, motivate employees to take a personal interest in the company and in each other, and enjoy working together for the success of the individual, as well as the company.
To this end, the ISP Sports Academy was developed to help with the professional and personal growth of each individual working within the company. This pamphlet was designed to share ISP’s commitments regarding each team member’s professional development, and the vast array of opportunities that exist for such development.
The Mission Statement
ISP is committed to investing in each team member’s personal well-being and professional development. We believe that to do so helps us more fully develop their potential which in turn helps to make them better employees, and greater contributors to the success of our enterprise and the communities we serve. When our teammates do their best, we are better equipped to service and retain our customers and can ultimately grow our business.
The Ways We Invest In Our Team Members
ORIENTATION:
The ISP orientation is a five day orientation conducted in a classroom-style environment in which various corporate team members are utilized as instructors. The objective of this training is to comprehensively familiarize the new ISP team members with the stated policies and procedures and general operational and communications flow of the company, and provide basic training for the position the team member is entering. Two of the five days provides an opportunity for ISP’s new executives to familiarize themselves with the sales process of the organization. Most importantly, the orientation provides new team members an understanding of the sports marketing business through the "eyes of ISP.”
TEAM DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE:
Each year, all ISP team members participate in a three day, two night conference featuring professional and independent facilitation. The primary objective of the TDC is to stimulate team building, strategic thinking and personal and professional development.
SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS:
On an annual basis, ISP offers opportunities for team members to participate in continuing education seminars, conferences and/or workshops.
SALES ACADEMIES (GM):
Each year ISP will conduct two (2) General Managers sales academies. These meetings provide educational growth opportunities for senior management and a time for future development of the properties.
SALES ACADEMIES (NON-GM):
Each year ISP will conduct two (2) sales academy meetings for those sellers other than general managers. These meetings provide educational growth opportunities for sales executives and a time for future development of the properties.
ISP TEAM EVENTS:
During the summer, the ISP Sports Academy will host various ISP Team Events for all team members. Generally these events are geographically determined and provide yet another opportunity for ISP to invest in the well-being of it's team members. The events are typically one and one-half days, one night events and range from concerts to white water rafting to professional baseball games.
Incentive and Enrichment Programs
"CHAIRMAN'S CUP":
ISP recognizes extraordinary achievement through a comprehensive incentive program. The pinnacle of excellence is the "Chairman's Cup" award, presented each year at the Corporate Development Conference. There is a Chairman's Cup award presented to three (3) sales executive (two (2) from the ISP team and one (1) from the joint venture team, as well as two (2) team members from the administrative/operational pool. Quarterly prizes are awarded to the administrative/operational team members who excel within the incentive program.
SOAR:
In great organizations, the responsibility for finding occasions for team members to learn, and therefore grow, is shared. Each Wednesday from 8:30 until 9:00 a.m., the entire ISP team will have the opportunity to stop everything they are conducting, obligate their minds to education and read a book. SOAR stands for Stop Open your mind And Read. Each team member may use these thirty minutes to read any book of their choice.
WRITE:
Each Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. ISP will WRITE (We Remember ISP Thanks Everyone)! Everyone in the company will have the opportunity to express their appreciation to clients, vendors, radio affiliates, prospects and/or other ISP/Joint Venture team members. This time will be used to write handwritten notes of gratitude to those that matter most to our company. We challenge every team member to completely focus on this task for 30 minutes and write, at a minimum, ten (10) thank you notes per week.
Local Newspapers:
Each ISP office will be afforded the opportunity of having a newspaper subscription to their local newspaper. The paper will be available each morning by 7:30 a.m. for the team to study, contemplate and obtain useful information for sales and customer service. Newspapers must be put away by 8:30 a.m. and should never be read during the course of normal business hours. Team members can certainly use their lunch hour to conduct such reading.
The Extra Point:
The Extra Point is ISP’s internal newsletter. This vital communication piece comes out once a month and is distributed to all ISP and Joint Venture team members. The newsletter contains such information as Customer Service articles, sales promotions updates and standings, professional development articles, highlights from Sports Business Journal, IEG, Team Marketing Report, Selling Power, NCAA News, etc., team rankings, special team recognitions, announcements, new hires and transitions.
ISP Sports Academy Library:
A crucial part of professional development is continuing self-education. To help with both professional and personal development for each team member, a substantial library of books, CDs, video tapes, cassette tapes, magazines and various other publications is maintained and available. These materials cover current business topics, leadership development, computer training, sales and negotiating techniques, customer service information and various social etiquette information.