Cultural Times ISSUE 4 JAN 2020

Where Diversity Thrives
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Invisible
Disabilities
By Tanya Finnie
Content Warning for Sensitive Readers. Includes graphic injury description.
"Invisible disabilities" or "hidden disabilities" are
disabilities that are not immediately apparent.
Some people with vision lost, may wear contacts.
To mediate chronic pain, some may choose
medication, rather than a visible mobility device.
Humans have a habit of recognising that which
we can see. It can be easier to identify disability
by a guide dog, white cane, or wheelchair.
Consequently, people living with invisible
disabilities sometimes have their disability
dismissed as illegitimate and may even be
accused of faking it.
Last year my 10-year-old son had a freak
accident. Standing on the bed, he reached for
something and fell off. Unfortunately, he braced
his fall with the window next to the bed and the
glass shattered forming sharp triangles. On his
way down he practically dragged his arm through
the glass and almost cut his arm off. He severed
nerves, tendons, muscles and most of the
arteries.
We were quick to act and the emergency
personnel flocked around him like seagulls to a
slice of bread. Organised seagulls.
For more than five hours of accomplished
precision, microsurgeons worked to put my boy
back together. I was blown away by the support of
friends and family in the weeks after the incident.
Grateful for their presence and the fact that my
boy recovered well above expectations at a
speedy rate.
However! For the time being he is left with an
invisible disability and the response from some
left me disappointed and surprised. Whilst he
was in a cast, I often had random well-meaning
mothers and teachers profess on how it is a right
of passage for boys to break an arm and it only
takes a few weeks to recovery. Once it came off
during the day (he still sleeps with it at night to
stretch his arm, else it is too stiff to use in the
mornings), everyone assumed his arm was back
to normal function.
Due to some nerve damage and his ongoing
recovery he still has limited feeling and
movement in his thumb and forefinger leaving
him frustrated to perform certain everyday tasks.
How does this apply to the workplace?
There is a long list of invisible diseases
employers do not consider or adapt for and
employees do not declare - from depression
to chronic pain and everything in-between.
My challenge is for you to realise that sometimes
good intentions are not enough and keep invisible
disabilities in mind. You need to make a constant
effort to put yourself in others’ shoes. I often hear
people complain that the world has become too
politically correct. This has nothing to do with
being politically correct, but simply having
respecting others.
My Platinum rule is treat others as
they like to be treated, NOT like you
want to be treated.
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10 BIG
PRESENTING
MISTAKES
TO AVOID
or
MAYBE 12
By Paula Smith CSP
Speaker, Author, Master Trainer and an expert in the art and science of
Business Presenting - Presentation Intelligence ®
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10 Big Presenting Mistakes
We've all been to THOSE presentations
The ones where we stare in horror at the presenter who lacks any presenting
skill or worse, the presenter who just doesn't know how to behave
appropriately from the platform, boardroom or training room floor. The same
presenter that has not researched the local destination or audience and refers
to dollars and snaggers on the barbie to a confused Malaysian audience.Yes,
that same presenter who has been hired to inspire, educate or influence us.
So here are a few mistakes or 'don't dos' to avoid when you next take the platform, so you
don't have to be 'that presenter'.
1. Don't start boring - Your opening should get the attention of
the audience and incite curiosity. Be creative and relevant.
There are hundreds of ways to start building trust and credibility
with your audience. Telling a joke at the start of your
presentation generally isn’t one of them. You don’t know who it
will offend.
2. Don't ask the audience to do anything before you
establish trust - You know the presenters who want us to
raise our hands, stand up, sit down, or hug someone
before the presentation has even begun.
3. Don't get off topic - If you are asked to speak on a topic, design
and deliver on that. Just because you know lots of other stuff - save it
for next time.
4. Don't steal time - You go over by 10
minutes, you have just stolen 10 minutes from
the next presenter and now all the morning tea
has gone cold. All because you wanted to talk
some more. Not good and just a little bit selfish,
don't you think?
5. Don't data dump - Tell stories,
interact, share, inspire and give
great examples. Too much data
hurts our brains and your audience
members won't remember most of it
anyway.
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10 Big Presenting Mistakes
6. Don't present too fast or too slow -
Present at a pace that is brain-friendly,
easy to follow and enjoyable to watch and
listen to.
7. Don't wander around - There is
something quite powerful about
stillness. If you do move around, make
sure you move naturally and with
purpose, not because you can't stand still.
8. Don't sell from the platform - unless
you have permission to do so. You don't
need to hard sell to get buy in from an
audience who wants more of you.
9. Don't complain - Never complain
about anything from the platform.
You're bigger than that. Not even
about the room, the organisers, the
catering, the audience, the previous
speaker or the Manager who
booked you. Yes, presenters do it all
the time, unbelievable.
10. Don't let anyone else have the
last word - Remember the primacy
and recency effect. Your audience
needs to leave with your key
message ringing in their ears, not
the audience member asking when
the toilet break is.
Okay I'm on a roll and can't stop so if you want 2 more tips stay put.
Hmm, that's a bit like stealing time isn't it. I'm sharing any way and here
comes the CULTURAL mistake.
11. Don't be culturally inappropriate-
There is no excuse for this one any more. We present to a
diverse audience every time. If you are unsure - do your
research or get some valuable cultural training.
12. Don't be a copy of any other presenter - You are a
'one of a kind' presenter with a unique message -
embrace your message and your authentic presenting
style.
There are many more but that's a start.
Which ones are you guilty of?
Even the professional speakers get it wrong sometimes.
Oh yes and please do wear clothes.
Paula Smith CEO of GITP and your expert in Presentation Intelligence ®
Professional Speaker CSP, Author, Master Trainer and Business Leadership Coach
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