There are so many ways you can work with health care providers to help improve care. You may be asked to be a member of an advisory council for the clinic, serve on a committee looking at better ways to provide support and patient education, speak to community groups, or train staff. Sharing your story is one of the most effective skills you need as you begin to serve in these roles. You may find it to be the most powerful way to inspire change.

Yet, sharing personal stories does not come naturally to many. Telling your story effectively requires training and practice. Training and practice will help you:

• Share your story in a clear and convincing way; 
• Maintain your dignity and limit your story to only what you are comfortable sharing with others; 
• Keep your own emotions under your control; and 
• Model respectful and productive strategies for working together with staff and physicians.

There are steps you can take to make sure that you are well prepared to share your story.

Prepare. Find out as much information as you can about the event you will be speaking at. What is the purpose of the event? Is it an informal meeting with people sitting around a table? Or is it more formal, like a staff or physician training? Who will be there? How much time will you have?

Practice.  Give yourself time to practice telling your story. A good story does not have to be long. Listening to a few minutes of a well-told story can be very convincing. It is usually best if you come up with two to three main points that you feel are important and then illustrate these with examples from your own experience. Make it real. You can build your skills by audiotaping or videotaping yourself, practicing in front of a mirror, or asking a trusted friend or family member to listen to your story and give advice. If there are other patients and families you know that have experience serving as an advisor in health care improvement, ask them if they are willing to give you feedback.

Consider Your Presentation Style. The way in which you tell your story often will have a long-term impact on the audience. For that reason, it is important to share your story in a way that is respectful and helpful. It is okay to be angry about situations and share those feelings, but you want to be in control of your anger. You don’t want anger to alienate others. If you are feeling too upset about an issue that you feel your message may not be constructive, it may be best to find someone to talk to you about your experience and help you resolve the issue before your share your story. When physicians and staff have asked you to help plan changes, to improve care for others, they want to hear both the positive and negative. Again, make sure you can give them concrete examples of what has worked for you and your family and what has not gone so well.

Bring Supporting Materials.  It helps to have things that will support your story. If you are making a formal presentation, you may want to share photos or provide slides that frame your story for you and your audience. Slides or pictures can help keep you focused on your main points. You may want to write your notes and have them available. But be careful not to read from them for the entire presentation. If you are telling your story in an informal meeting, take along a few things that add some meaning to your story if you need to (such as a new patient informational packet, copy of a bill, messages you see on signs in the waiting room).

If you are interested in strengthening your presentation skills further, you may want to look at the training opportunities offered in your community through local civic organizations or continuing education classes at area colleges.