1. Connecting Your Dots Shaping your life story and Helping others find theirs

2. Connecting your dots What our session looks like: • Introductions • Agenda • The Danger of a Single Story • Questions for connecting your dots • Seeing the connection • The final picture

3. Introductions Barb Wilson

4. Introductions Barb Wilson

5. Introductions Introductions Wanda Kirkpatrick

6. Introductions Wanda Kirkpatrick

7. The Dots • Synergy • Intellectual, emotional, creative, social, and spiritual resources • Find ways for those resources to enhance and amplify each other • Connect the dots of your passions, strengths and life experiences

8. So what’s her story The Danger of a Single Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg One person’s story and connecting her dots. Listen carefully, we all have a story.

9. So what’s your Story • The Danger of a Single Story • Where do you see the speaker connecting the dots? • At what point did you connect your life story to the speaker? • What did the speaker do and say that shows she understood her dots and her story?

10. Where your dots can be found • Discovering synergistic opportunities starts with asking questions. • Process • Questions quiet and reflective writing • Share at your table • Report out

11. Reflections to connect your dots Reflection 1 • What are your natural skills, talents, and fascinations? • What instincts or inclinations have you followed, which have paid off for you?

12. Reflections to connect your dots Reflection 2 • What have been the most influential experiences in your life? • What unique and unusual life experiences have you had? • What have you taken away from your memorable experiences?

13. Reflections to connect your dots Reflection 3 • What knowledge and perspective can you draw on from your family heritage and cultural background? • In what environments do you feel most alive, energized and at ease?

14. Check In Discussion at your table • Are you starting to see any patterns, trends, or dot connections? • Do you recognize how your personal story impacts how you think, decisions you make, and valuesyou hold dear?

15. Reflections to connect your dots Reflection 4 • What personal relationships, professional connections and social networks are you a part of? • Which do you enjoy the most? • What moments of your current life bring you the most satisfaction? • What qualifies as fun to your even if it feels like work to other?

16. Connect the Reflective Dots As you continueto look at these factors you will begin to see a series of dots that define who you are and how you are naturally wired. Share with you table.

17. Do you see any differences • Are there differences at your table in personal story? • Where do these differences come from? • How do they impact your leadership? • What should your response be knowing these differences exist?

18. The Dynamics of Difference

19. The Dynamics of Differences… • How can you use the differences of others to: • Build your team • Create a ‘circle of trust’ – safety, trust, open-minded • Interact with parents • Communicate effectively with staff • Discuss…

20. The Dynamics of Differences…

21. Things to Consider • Do you see places where you need to continue to think and reflect to get a clearer picture? • What questions are unanswered? • What additional questions do you have about your life?

22. Actions Steps • Identify two to three actions to take in the next six months to: • Fill in the dots • Leverage your dots • Identify more dots • Share your dots • Help other clarify their dots

23. Helping others find their story Now that you have a clear picture of your story: what do you need to help others find their story what opportunities do you have coming up in the next six weeks to make time for story telling who do you need to know more about to improve your work and your leadership when will you do this – think proactively

24. Valuing Diversity and Inclusion • Your perspective matters • Leverage your position to value others’ stories • Video clip

25. Bringing it Together • Understanding your own story allows you to better understand others. • When you know your own story, you can coach and assist others in understanding their unique story. • ‘Connecting the Dots’ is just one way to coach others.

26. Lessons from a life Coach Katie Larsen, 2012

27. The Clear Picture The picture that forms when you start drawing lines between your own life dots will soon become a map for a future so compelling and so promising that you will want to live it for real starting now. Founder and CEO Lifetime Fitness, BahramAkradi