Peer-graded Assignment: Reflection

Challenge

A common problem I face in my line of work is how to keep different types of audiences  always focused on the presentations or speeches I give. I usually strive because in a same  conference I usually face different audiences such as CEOs, shareholders, lawyers, mid- level company employees and even shareholders’ family members (from teenagers to 80+  years old people).

Selection

In this sense, the design thinking tool I tend to use a lot is the Storytelling tool, mainly  because it is adaptable to all types of audiences and show a clear message that allows me  to take moments during the presentation to make questions (and answer them), reflect and  generate suspense.

This way, we don’t only present a solution for the problem we try to assess, but we create a  cause for the company’s shareholders (and any other company member present) to  understand and feel identified with the solution or drawn path for the future of their company  (as described in the video “Storytelling Tool” in Module 2 by Andre Martin, CLO at Mars).

Application

So usually before we prepare the presentation, me and my team perform a small research  that includes who is going to attend the presentation and what their backgrounds are. It is  crucial for us to know a few key things about our audience:

1. Their business background  2. Their age  3. Their position in the company

This way we prepare a story that is compelling and that can be relatable for all the audience.

We usually deal with a lot of pieces of information, from financial modeling outputs to  company corporate pictures of the management team. So naturally we have to review and  analyze all of the available data and then select which piece of information best fits the  compelling message we are trying to send. For example, if we know we are dealing with 80+  people we try to keep the figures and financial outputs to the minimum, just presenting big  figures that can cause a good (or bad, depending on the message we are trying to get  across) impression.

After introducing the problem through figures or financial data, we proceed to present the  solution. This is where the Storytelling tool comes really into handy. We try to present  images and simple charts that cause big impressions and that show a clear sequence of  events that will lead from the current problem to the future solution through simple (but  important) steps. We also are very careful to who is present during the presentation and that  the conclusion shows itself as a strategy accessible for everybody. Our main goal is that the  audience arrives at the conclusion by themselves, which not always happens.

Insight & Approach

I think that the most valuable insight I have learned from using the Storytelling tool is that it is  key to know your audience. Not only before an important presentation but also before initial  meetings or any other key meetings with people (or clients) you are meeting for the first time.

The Storytelling tool allows you to keep your audience on spot with your presentation at all  times and to involve them during the decision making process throughout the presentation or  meeting. Letting them be a part of the presentation by creating a compelling story with  spaces for reflection, can – and possible will – lead them to be inspired and aligned (all  stakeholders) with the solution. They quickly relate to the solution (as well as the problem)  and it becomes a cause, something more personal and that the entire group can relate to.

Now that I have a deeper knowledge of Design Thinking and the tools, I would probably  combine the Storytelling tool with the Visualization tool. This way, I can achieve a deeper  involvement of the audience in the understanding of the problem. Me and my team are used  to perform the problem diagnoses on our own. With the help of this tool we would possible  achieve a more precise definition of the problem and possibly present a better solution fit to  the client’s needs.


Peer - graded Assignment : Reflection Challenge A common problem I face in my line of work is how to keep different types of audiences always focused on the presentations or speeches I give . I usually strive because in a same conference I usually face different audiences such as CEOs , shareholders , lawyers , mid- level company employees and even shareholders ’ family members ( from teenagers to 80 + years old people ) . Selection In this sense , the design thinking tool I tend to use a lot is the Storytelling tool , mainly because it is adaptable to all types of audiences and show a clear message that allows me to take moments during the presentation to make questions ( and answer them ) , reflect and generate suspense . This way , we do n’t only present a solution for the problem we try to assess , but we create a cause for the company ’s shareholders ( and any other company member present ) to understand and feel identified with the solution or drawn path for the future of their company ( as described in the video “ Storytelling Tool ” in Module 2 by Andre Martin , CLO at Mars ) . Application So usually before we prepare the presentation , me and my team perform a small research that includes who is going to attend the presentation and what their backgrounds are . It is crucial for us to know a few key things about our audience : 1 . Their business background 2 . Their age 3 . Their position in the company This way we prepare a story that is compelling and that can be relatable for all the audience . We usually deal with a lot of pieces of information , from financial modeling outputs to company corporate pictures of the management team . So naturally we have to review and analyze all of the available data and then select which piece of information best fits the compelling message we are trying to send . For example , if we know we are dealing with 80 + people we try to keep the figures and financial outputs to the minimum , just presenting big figures that can cause a good ( or bad , depending on the message we are trying to get across ) impression . After introducing the problem through figures or financial data , we proceed to present the solution . This is where the Storytelling tool comes really into handy . We try to present images and simple charts that cause big impressions and that show a clear sequence of events that will lead from the current problem to the future solution through simple ( but important ) steps . We also are very careful to who is present during the presentation and that the conclusion shows itself as a strategy accessible for everybody . Our main goal is that the audience arrives at the conclusion by themselves , which not always happens . Insight & Approach I think that the most valuable insight I have learned from using the Storytelling tool is that it is key to know your audience . Not only before an important presentation but also before initial meetings or any other key meetings with people ( or clients ) you are meeting for the first time . The Storytelling tool allows you to keep your audience on spot with your presentation at all times and to involve them during the decision making process throughout the presentation or meeting . Letting them be a part of the presentation by creating a compelling story with spaces for reflection , can – and possible will – lead them to be inspired and aligned ( all stakeholders ) with the solution . They quickly relate to the solution ( as well as the problem ) and it becomes a cause , something more personal and that the entire group can relate to . Now that I have a deeper knowledge of Design Thinking and the tools , I would probably combine the Storytelling tool with the Visualization tool . This way , I can achieve a deeper involvement of the audience in the understanding of the problem . Me and my team are used to perform the problem diagnoses on our own . With the help of this tool we would possible achieve a more precise definition of the problem and possibly present a better solution fit to the client ’s needs .