Benefits of Leadership

Fellow Toastmasters,

I would like to add a personal note leadership roles in Toastmasters.

I have been a district officer for the last 5 years, from an Area Governor to District Governor, and what I have learned from each role is phenomenal. It hasn't cost me more than dues and the purchase of a few manuals.

The leadership I have learned has helped me grow tremendously at work. I feel so much more confident in talking to clients, my high net worth of retirement accounts, and my managers. And, as I balanced my roles in 2009 as Lt Governor of Education & Training and then the top position, as District Governor, I was recognized and greatly rewarded for my outstanding performance in retaining clients in 2009!

The point of all this is to tell you that I no longer think of any of these leadership roles as work 'in addition' to my full time job. I now see them as an important and necessary part that go hand in hand with my growth at work, too. For me, they've become inseparable. They work together and that can happen to you, too.

I say, don't look at any leadership role solely as extra work. Be open minded and you will soon see that behind a lot of good that is happening to you - whether it's at work or in your personal life - you may just come to realize that Toastmasters and the leadership roles you have served beyond the club just may have something to do with it.

Personally speaking, it's been an awesome last 5 years for me in Toastmasters and I just experienced one of my best years professionally in a slow economy.

The Road to Leadership has paved an incredible journey for me and it can for you, too. I'd be happy to talk with any of you about it or refer you to a member who has performed the role.

Once that 'connection' occurs you find they work together in harmony and for that I will stay the course with my next leadership role and the one after that and so forth.

I recently read the following about leadership:

"All of us have the spark of leadership in us, whether it is in business, in government, or as a nonprofit volunteer. The challenge is to understand ourselves well enough to discover where we can use our leadership gifts to serve others."

I hope you all consider each of these nominations and encourage yourself or another to go for it and be all that you can be and more through Toastmasters while keeping our beloved District 53 strong and growing!

Thank you very much!

Marsha
Move Forward on the Leadership Road -  it is an awesome journey of personal growth!