Inspiring Presentations
Inspired by the mountains
The impact of the presentations given by Katja Staartjes is experienced by her audiences as inspiring and motivational, for management leaders and team-members alike. Throughout her presentations, Katja shows the relevance of the experience she has gained on her climbing expeditions for everyone, in many of the situations encountered at home and at work. The lessons and guidelines she offers include such issues as:
- Framing a concrete goal or challenge: What do you want to achieve, as a person, a team, or an organization?
- What motivates you? Where can you find inspiration?
- What makes or breaks a good team?
- How do you handle anxiety, mistakes, or risks? What is the policy in these areas?
- What can you do when you’re faced with setbacks or daily upsets?
- Why is it that some people reach the top, and others don’t?
- Exactly how important is the process, the way you get to the top?
- And finally: What next, after you have reached the top? Or if you didn’t achieve your goal?
Different organizations often have their own particular issues they wish to address. If you would like these issues to be included in the presentation, they can usually be built into the basic presentation in accordance with your objectives.
A choice of presentations
The attention of the audience is captivated by the breathtaking images, taking you on a virtual climb to the top. One of Katja Staartjes’ expeditions forms the central pivot around which the presentation is created. Mostly Katja works from one or the following basic presentations, which is then customized to suit specific audiences:
1. Together to the Top
The first Dutch climb of Gasherbrum 1 (8,068 m) in Pakistan: Expedition Leader Katja Staartjes took a small-scale expedition up this eight-thousander in 2004. The peak was reached by all four of the team members. The achievement was the result of successful cooperation, not only within the team, but also with two other teams making the same climb.
This presentations focuses on teamwork, personal leadership, and successful achievement. Together to the top – read more
2. The point of Integrity
The highest achievement; To the top with integrity: presentation based on two Dutch expeditions to Manaslu (8,163 m) in 2008 (the Manaslu Spring expedition and Manaslu Autumn expedition).
The goal of the first expedition in the Spring was to climb Shisha Pangma in Tibet, which turned out to at the last minute to be impossible due to the closed borders. The team of five then decided on the higher and more difficult Manaslu mountain in Nepal. Both team spirit and cooperation were optimal, but nevertheless we didn’t make it to the peak: the team got to 7,700 m.
A retry – the same year – brought Katja Staartjes and her husband Henk Wesselius (without the help of oxygen, or climbing sherpas) to the subsidiary peak, only 23 metres below the actual peak. It was a great achievement, but nonetheless not 100% the intended goal. What happened next - on that forepeak and afterwards - eventually turned out to offer a good lesson concerning integrity, reality and success.
This presentation focuses on teamwork, integrity, and dealing with setbacks.
The point of integrity – read more
3. High Aspirations
This presentation is based on the expedition to Mount Everest (8,848 m) in 1999. Katja Staartjes was one of the team members in a large, international expedition led by professional guides. High Aspirations – read more
Duration
The presentations given by Katja Staartjes usually last between 45 minutes and two hours. Longer sessions, incorporating more interaction with the participants, are also possible. Another option is to add additional meetings in which specific selected issues are the central focus, and Katja functions as the process leader in discussions. If desired, Katja can also offer tailor-made sessions together with other experienced management trainers with whom she works regularly.
Objectives
“My goal is to present an inspiring story that stimulates reflection and gets things moving. I want to have an impact on my audience. Frequently, my clients want to achieve something more than simply stimulating their employees, and there is a clear objective. For example, the presentation is embedded in a team meeting day, and is intended to stimulate deeper discussion about cooperation. In a case like this, I integrate questions that have been agreed with the client beforehand, so that an interactive discussion develops. It often works well to have people work in dyads or small groups. At the end of the discussion I tnen summarise the results, and continue with the presentation. I can work specific standpoints into the presentation, to make it easier to generate discussion. I look for quality in my life, and that includes my presentations. My ultimate aim is to have high customer satisfaction with every presentation.” Katja Staartjes.
What Katja Staartjes says about ...
Risk:
“You won’t reach the top without running into risks.”
“Many organizations avoid taking risks out of fear – but of what?”
“The art lies in taking calculated risks.”
Cooperation:
“The bottom line is cooperation: joint goals, and team members who are considerate to each other.”
“Don’t wait to have a party when you reach your final goal, remember to celebrate the milestones along the way.”
Inspiration:
“You have to put all you’ve got into a peak performance, but the key lies in being inspired.”
“Really wanting to achieve something is completely different from being contented for achievements to happen.”
Personal growth:
“It’s all about development and growth.”
“Development becomes possible when you’re open to innovation, and learn from every experience.”
For more information: see Portrait.
Practical matters
The impact of Katja’s presentations is highly dependent on the photographic material. It is therefore extremely important that they can be shown on a large projection screen; at least 3 metres wide. A screen of this format can be provided, if required. Rooms with a high ceiling are best, so that the screen can be high enough to allow everyone in the audience to see it clearly. The effect is also enhanced in rooms with good lighting, but direct sunlight is a major problem. It should be possible to darken the room to some extent.
Book Peak Performance
Katja Staartje’s second book was created as a result of her presentations. It is a practical reference book, with concise treatments of 60 different themes related to making dreams come true, meeting challenges, and delivering peak performances. Each theme is illustrated with a photograph, taken in the mountains where Katja continues to find her inspiration. The book, which is often ordered by clients as a gift for customers and business partners, costs € 19.95 (English translation, the original Dutch book Top-inspiratie costs € 17.50).
Interested?
Would you like to organize one of Katja’s inspiring presentations in your organization? Get in touch with Katja Staartjes Management Inspiration, by calling directly on: +31 570 550 343
or send an e-mail at: 
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