After reading Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, our class was inspired to think more creatively on how we present data and information. We all agreed that a healthy balance of facts and creativity needed to exist. If you are too flashy without emphasizing facts, would you be taken seriously? If you were all about facts, data, and pie charts with no creativity, would your audience run from your presentation or fall asleep?

A recent conference at work on Trauma Informed Care was a healthy balance of delivering sensitive information with facts and evidence along with media and creativity. A video they used reminded us that everyone is going through something we may not understand or know about. Behaviors meet a need. If I’m angry, bitter, or sad perhaps I need something and don’t have the words to convey my need, so I respond, react, and do things that seem rude.

It reminds me of the habit from Stephen Covey’s book, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

As leaders we can often jump to conclusions, judge a situation through our lens, and lack the mercy that is needed in the moment. In our Leadership Presence book, reaching out with empathy was stressed. It’s not that we excuse the behavior, or ignore it, but we listen, understand, and hopefully empower the person to get their needs met within the boundaries set forth within the organization or family.

It’s a paradigm shift in our minds and hearts. Take time to view the video below.