Presentations

Challenge & Selection      Presentations are a great tool that I use all the time. I work with vulnerable populations, people with  developmental disabilities, senior citizens, and people in economic hardship. Many of these people face  oppression and dysfunction in all aspects of their lives and need to be empowered, and inspiration is one  way to do so. I spend a lot of time "opening people's hearts" and finding ways to inspire them to improve  their situations. When I work with older adults, we share stories for different reasons. Often they are  lonely and very happy to share their life stories with me in order to make connections, and they find  meaning in sharing these experiences, in a sense, as a form of teaching and/or legacy. For my  developmentally disabled clients, I share my life story to help them imagine a state of independence, I use  their feedback with the context of my story to identify their goals, and sometimes we use the story to  better understand their interests and thought processes. I use this information to develop different  strategies to try to find a way that works for them to gain more independence in areas of their lives that  they feel are lacking.     Application      I have a story about using a presentation. While discussing a policy change with a social service agency, I  tried to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client-centered approach, specifically recognizing  that each person is a unique being and addressing their individual needs first. The agency was in the grip  of a "culture of compliance" and its clients were failing in this non-compassionate, rigid structure. I was  also explaining that sometimes addressing one person's needs can have a better impact on everyone,  even if it seems extreme or dysfunctional. I told a story about how I managed an emergency shelter after  a natural disaster. Everyone did very well, except for one woman whose stress made her very emotionally  unstable. I could tell she needed attention; in my mind, I decided to make her a "princess for an hour". I  made her a cup of coffee, sat down with her, and let her talk. It turned out that her mother, who was with  her, had suffered a brain aneurysm and was terrified that she would fall or have some other crisis during  this disaster at the shelter.      Insight & Approach      Obviously, it was time for me to tell my story. I told her how horrible it was when my father had a brain  aneurysm right in front of me and how difficult and scary it all was when I had to take him to the hospital.  I shared how he recovered well and then connected us by pointing out that she and my parents were both  brain aneurysm survivors. That worked very well. She really needed personal attention for that short  period of time, and she finally got that attention and real support. She calmed down, her mother calmed  down, her mother had started to worry about her, and the people around them calmed down. Peace was  restored to our little shelter.     So I told the story to the agency and I think it made a big impact on the people there. Policies are being  re-evaluated and caseworkers are receiving new training. Sometimes, a little story can do a lot of good.

This course made me look at the tool in a new way. I used to do it really "on the fly," but now I can prepare  ahead of time and come up with stories that assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them.     I have a design background, but I ended up being an entrepreneur in business. I didn't know this would  be considered an asset, but I am very grateful that it exists!


Presentations Challenge & Selection Presentations are a great tool that I use all the time . I work with vulnerable populations , people with developmental disabilities , senior citizens , and people in economic hardship . Many of these people face oppression and dysfunction in all aspects of their lives and need to be empowered , and inspiration is one way to do so . I spend a lot of time " opening people 's hearts " and finding ways to inspire them to improve their situations . When I work with older adults , we share stories for different reasons . Often they are lonely and very happy to share their life stories with me in order to make connections , and they find meaning in sharing these experiences , in a sense , as a form of teaching and/or legacy . For my developmentally disabled clients , I share my life story to help them imagine a state of independence , I use their feedback with the context of my story to identify their goals , and sometimes we use the story to better understand their interests and thought processes . I use this information to develop different strategies to try to find a way that works for them to gain more independence in areas of their lives that they feel are lacking . Application I have a story about using a presentation . While discussing a policy change with a social service agency , I tried to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client - centered approach , specifically recognizing that each person is a unique being and addressing their individual needs first . The agency was in the grip of a " culture of compliance " and its clients were failing in this non - compassionate , rigid structure . I was also explaining that sometimes addressing one person 's needs can have a better impact on everyone , even if it seems extreme or dysfunctional . I told a story about how I managed an emergency shelter after a natural disaster . Everyone did very well , except for one woman whose stress made her very emotionally unstable . I could tell she needed attention ; in my mind , I decided to make her a " princess for an hour " . I made her a cup of coffee , sat down with her , and let her talk . It turned out that her mother , who was with her , had suffered a brain aneurysm and was terrified that she would fall or have some other crisis during this disaster at the shelter . Insight & Approach Obviously , it was time for me to tell my story . I told her how horrible it was when my father had a brain aneurysm right in front of me and how difficult and scary it all was when I had to take him to the hospital . I shared how he recovered well and then connected us by pointing out that she and my parents were both brain aneurysm survivors . That worked very well . She really needed personal attention for that short period of time , and she finally got that attention and real support . She calmed down , her mother calmed down , her mother had started to worry about her , and the people around them calmed down . Peace was restored to our little shelter . So I told the story to the agency and I think it made a big impact on the people there . Policies are being re - evaluated and caseworkers are receiving new training . Sometimes , a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me look at the tool in a new way . I used to do it really " on the fly , " but now I can prepare ahead of time and come up with stories that assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them . I have a design background , but I ended up being an entrepreneur in business . I did n't know this would be considered an asset , but I am very grateful that it exists !