Greetings!
Welcome
to the November issue of Emergency Management
Solutions.
Apologies
for the last minute delivery but between the holiday, the IAEM
conference, speaking commitments and a brief family vacation, time
has just slipped away this month.
Having just attended a number of conferences, I was struck once
again at what a really bad job a lot of us do in communicating
ideas in our presentations. Consequently, I've devoted this month's
white paper to the subject of building effective presentations. I
hope you'll find it useful!
If
you are having trouble viewing the white paper, try clicking on
the link at the top of the page. Alternatively, you can always find
my white paper on my blog site.
|
Professional
Development
This month has been one of almost constant travel for me,
between speaking engagements and the IAEM Conference in San
Antonio. However, the high point of my month was the opportunity to
address a group of emergency management students at Dublin City
University's School of Business. DCU has the only emergency
management program in Ireland and the students were all seasoned
veterans of emergency services organizations. It was a tremendous
opportunity to learn from my Irish colleagues and it's comforting
to know that we all share the same problems and the same
concerns.
As we advance in our careers, I think it's important that we give
back to the profession by helping to educate those who will follow
us. When is the last time you volunteered your time as a guest
speaker in an emergency management education program? It's not as
daunting a task as you think if you keep several concepts in mind:
- Recognize that some of your students may actually know more
than you about our profession. They are enrolled in formal programs
that we did not have when we started out and have been more exposed
to research literature.
- Don't portray yourself as an expert in all things. Rather
approach the opportunity as a colleague who wants to offer a point
of view for the students' consideration.
- Encourage students to disagree with you if they wish and use
that as an opportunity to engage in a dialogue. You're there to
make them think, not to score debating points.
Speaking to a group
of students brings you a number of benefits:
- It's an opportunity to practice your presentation skills in a
low-risk environment.
- It's an opportunity to get fresh ideas from people who don't
necessarily carry the baggage we do.
- It counts towards professional certification.
- It's just fun!
|
