Silver Bow Kiwanis Kiwanis Club Meeting, Jun 26, '12

12:00-1:00 Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Cathy introduced her guest and office manager Kaitlyn Okrush, who is currently a student at MSU-Bozeman.

Then Doreena introduced Cathy as our speaker.

Cathy spent several years as an attorney prosecuting crimes that occurred within the Washington DC prison system, but has since evolved her practice to increasing productivity. She returned to Butte recently after recovering from Lime Disease in Arizona.

She asked what we think of when we hear people talking about making a contribution. Among the answers from the members present were money, time, blood, self, expertise, ambition, planning, and skills. These are common responses to the question, but Cathy pointed out that they aren't correct.

To contribute you need to know what you care about, and you will promote that when you speak. On the other hand, actively listen to what people are saying to you. By actively listening to people, you will contribute to them and they will be encouraged to reciprocate.

Cathy then had us do an exercise where we paired up. First we had one person in the pair tell the other about something we care about while the other tried to ignore us. Then we swapped and the second person tried to tell the first something they cared about while the first person tried to ignore them. In discussion, we found it was hard to ignore people, and it was even harder to talk to someone who was ignoring you.

Then we reversed the exercise. Still in our same pairs, to turns talking about the thing we cared about while the other person was instructed to actively listen and make themselves interested in the subject. Cathy also gave us twice as long to talk about this, and it took several attempts from her to get our attention again.

When a listener is engaged, the conversation is more pleasant for everyone involved, and more is accomplished.

Cathy stopped actively practicing law in 1997, and didn't start again until she opened her new practice here in Butte in 2012. However, with her new practice, she focuses on communication and negotiation primarily on family and divorce cases. By working through these techniques, she is able to help her clients (and the other party) come to better solutions.

Presentation

Cathy Tutty, Conversations for The Difference You Make In Life

Menu

Country Club Melt and Fries

Attendees

27

Event Updated

10:16 Wednesday, June 27, 2012