Smarter Decisions, Better life
My objective from the very beginning has been to help individuals develop their self-esteem and problem-solving skills. My goal is to help them better comprehend the issues affecting their lives and encourage better decision-making skills, leading to the integration of constructive life lessons.
SAMPLE PRESENTATIONS
CHARACTER / ETHICS / VALUES
Very often the decisions that individuals make are influenced by their character, ethical foundation and the values that they have developed. Therefore, one can argue that character, ethics and values are the core principles which determine our behavior. This presentation will focus on varied aspects of these subjects. Core concepts to be covered include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
- Defining the terms "character, ethics and values"
- Discussion of factors which influence their development
- Exploring strategies that adults (e.g., parents, teachers, coaches, etc.) can use to assist in the moral development of our youth
- The detrimental effects of enabling unethical behavior
LEADERSHIP
What do we mean by the word ''leadership?" What do we look for in a ''leader?" I have found that many different concepts/qualities relative to these questions have been mentioned in discussions I have had with colleagues, students and athletes. This presentation will focus on varied aspects of the leadership issue. Core concepts to be covered include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
- Discussion of the definition "leadership"
- Exploration of qualities to be found in an effective leader
- The concept of "leader as a role model"
- Strategies to help develop the qualities of leadership in your staff and/or team
- The relationship between good communication skills and positive leadership
- How enabling behaviors can compromise a leader's credibility
SPORTSMANSHIP
I am a firm believer that one of the "life lessons" individuals should learn as they participate in competitive activities, whether sports or other areas, is sportsmanship. This presentation will focus on the varied aspects of this topic. Core concepts to be covered include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
- A discussion, with examples, of what good sportsmanship is and isn't
- Ways to develop good sportsmanship and how to make this part of the culture of your team
- How to make individuals aware of the way that the sportsmanship displayed can/does affect others
- Factors which may influence our behavior in a competitive situation
- The importance of parental support, of having everyone "on the same page"
- The detrimental effects of enabling unsportsmanlike behavior
DECISION-MAKING
It is clear that the decisions we make can have a tremendous impact on our lives. This presentation will focus on varied aspects of the decision-making process. Core concepts to be covered include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
- Factors that influence decision-making
- Understanding that there are rewards and consequences for the decisions we make
- Awareness of how the decisions we make can/do affect others
- The steps often taken in making a decision
- The effect of our decisions on our quality of life: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
ADDICTION AND DEPENDENCY
Unfortunately, many individuals in our society are affected by the issue of addiction, either because they themselves, a family member or someone else in their life is addicted. Many of these people often ignore and/or deny the problem, often with devastating results. This presentation will focus on the many facets of the addiction/dependency dynamic. Core concepts include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
- The disease concept of addiction
- The different kinds of addiction
- Common symptoms found in addicts
- Issues particular to teens/adolescents
- How the addiction process differs for teens and adults
- Why addiction has been labeled "a family disease''
- The concept of "enabling"
BULLYING
Bullying, which can involve harassment, intimidation, humiliation, threats, as well as actual physical assault, is a behavior which, in essence, shows total lack of respect for another human being. Now, with the advanced technology in our society, which allows for cyberbullying, this antisocial behavior has become more pervasive and high-profile. This presentation will focus on varied aspects of bullying. Core concepts to be covered include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
- The different forms of bullying
- Factors/reasons behind bullying behavior
- Roles individuals play in the bullying scenario
- The role of the media and technology in the bullying process
- Exploring specific examples of how bullying behavior impacts others
- Strategies for parents, educators, and other adults to combat bullying and promote civility
- The detrimental effects of enabling bullying behavior