Sports, Comedy, Virtual Employees Headline The Forum Think Tank

Research on Engaging Virtual Workforce to be Unveiled Oct. 26

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Sept. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The virtual workplace - how do leaders connect with people they don't see? What do the best sports coaches know that could make your managers more effective? How does a pizza guy create an exceptional workplace? And what does comedy have to do with any of this? These questions and more will be answered at The Forum's Fourth Annual Think Tank –  "The Enrichment Experience: Engaging Great Minds and the Power of People in the Workplace" -- held at Chicago's Second City on Wed., Oct. 26, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"We're bringing together learnings from the best sports coaches, Nick Sarillo of Nick's Pizza & Pub, our research experts and the cast of Second City Communications to bring our new research to life," says The Forum President Keith Fenhaus, who is also president of Hallmark Business Connections. "Our latest study examines the positive effects of personal relationships, those between a company and its virtual workers, employees who may feel disenfranchised due to geography or cultural barriers. Since off-site workers represent up to 40-percent of the U.S. workforce in companies with 5,000 employees or more, we expect this new research will be of great interest to executives."

"The single most important aspect of successful coaching in sports is building and maintaining the personal relationships between players and their coaches," says The Forum Academic Director Frank Mulhern, Ph.D., of Northwestern University. "Just like successful sports team players, people perform best in their roles when their organizations support all aspects of their lives," he concluded.

Mulhern will be joined by keynote speaker Nick Sarillo of Nick's Pizza & Pub, The Forum Research Director Dr. Jennifer Rosenzweig, and cast members of Second City Communications.

Fenhaus said using the Second City improv techniques helps people communicate in more natural ways.  The workshop combines comedy skits, learning modules, speakers and group discussions. "Second City provides the perfect environment for teaching and learning," he added.

About The Forum
The Forum: Business Results Through People (www.BusinessResultsThroughPeople.org), affiliated with Northwestern University, is an organization for thought leadership advocating that the most effective way business leaders create and sustain organizational values is through partnership with people.

About Nick Sarillo
Nick Sarillo is the founder and CEO of Nick's Pizza & Pub, located in Crystal Lake, and Elgin, Illinois. Nick has been featured by Inc. magazine, FOX Business and Newsweek for his creative and values-driven approach to leadership and training. Find Nick and Nick's Pizza & Pub on Facebook and on Twitter at @Nickspizza.

About Second City Communications:
Second City Communications is the innovative business solutions division of the world famous comedy theater, The Second City.  Alumni include: the Belushi's, Harold Ramis, and Gilda Radner.  For more info visit www.secondcitycommunications.com.

Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click appropriate link.
Jennifer Rosenzweig
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=98336

Contact:
Susan Peterson (630) 369-7780
[email protected]
Sue Voyles (734) 667-2005
[email protected]

SOURCE The Forum