A Month at Winston: Bringing “My” Game to “the” Game

The phrase belongs to Martin St-Louis and has now become part of popular culture. As the teams in the National Hockey League wrap up the first quarter of their season, I reflected on this memorable quote.

The strength of an expression, however vivid, lies in its potential application in a myriad of other fields and contexts. Similar to the thawed pogo in Manon Massé's box or Martin St-Louis's game Russian doll, it extrapolates wonderfully into situations far removed from politics or hockey, as the case may be.

If I take this long detour, it's because no matter how I try to position it, I feel that my last month professionally – my first with Winston – is well summed up by Coach St-Louis's words. I brought my A-game to that of my new employer.

Or, in HR terms, they successfully integrated my skill set into the company culture.

Marty could probably complement the analysis with his metaphor of the right chair, also etched in history, but let's leave the vocabulary of the Canadiens coach for a moment.

A matter of culture, Pierre

Winston is a young and small company whose main expertise, HR marketing, remains a niche service. From two employees when I arrived, the company has grown to four as I write these lines. This means that a strong bond was needed to absorb such growth. That bond is the Winston culture, which is articulated and lived daily in an environment of openness, discussions, and continuous reflection.

An insignificant but nonetheless telling example: Winston's unofficial book club. In the Hawkesbury office, a small library contains about forty titles to discover. The hardcover editions of books specialized in marketing, employer branding, or strategy make you want to devour them without restraint, like little treasure chests of tips and tricks that stimulate creativity, change perspectives, and open up new possibilities.

As a brand strategist and writer, I joined a team that comes alive when it comes to content, editorial, and brand positioning. I strive to do the same in conversations about HR marketing – to expose myself, to immerse myself. I also collaborate every day with passionate writers who have a sharp pen and use it with fervour. For a writer, there is no better environment to stay motivated.

In short, the game is strong at Winston, and it makes you want to elevate yours to match it.