I was speaking to some friends yesterday afternoon. One of them received a job opportunity to lead a team of individuals. He was talking about the differences in his current position where he manages projects and his new position where he leads people. This got me to thinking about what I think makes a good leader.
I believe a good leader is a good listener. You have to understand where your team is coming from. Knowing how the team members work and feel helps you make better decisions. Understanding your team also helps you develop a communication strategy that builds buy-in when change is required.
Second, I believe a good leader is a good communicator. If you have all the best ideas and plans in your head, but cannot explain to people why the plan is good, you will have difficulty getting people to follow. Leading becomes less challenging when your team understands and follows.
What, in your opinion make a good leader?
Friday, September 7, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Contests : another way to improve
Successful professional speakers repeatedly tell us that stage time is key to improved speaking skills. Every time you participate in a Table Topics session, give a speech at a regular meeting, fill the role as an evaluator or as a Toastmaster, you are giving yourself stage time. Another speaking opportunity exists in the speaking contests. This fall, two contest opportunities are available to all Toastmasters. The Humorous Speech and the Evaluation contests. Details about our contest opportunities are listed below.
Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests
Club Contest
Participation.
All members are requested to attend so we have enough participants and judges. Your participation, whether as a contestant or as a judge will create a successful event.
Eligibility requirement
All members of EastSide Madison Toastmasters are eligible to compete in either or both of the contests.
Guests are welcome to observe the contests.
Sign up.
Using the on-line sign up by navigating to our site : http://1366.toastmastersclubs.org , and logging in by clicking on Member Login. Click on Meeting Agendas. View the September 17 Agenda. At this point you can sign up as a contestant or a support person. If all the roles appear to be filled, post a meeting note telling us what role you'd like to fill. The more contestants and judges, the better!
An alternative option to the on-line sign up is to send an e-mail to Victoria Frank advising your intentions.
Winners will be EastSide Madison Toastmasters' representatives at the Area Contest
Area contest
A member of District 35's area C-4, our area contest will be held on the same day as the area C-2 contests.
When: Thursday, Oct. 4th
Winners will be Area C-4's representatives at the District Contest
District Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - Neenah
Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests
Club Contest
The EastSide Madison Toastmasters will hold both the Humorous Speech and Evaluation contests on September 17, 2012.
Participation.
All members are requested to attend so we have enough participants and judges. Your participation, whether as a contestant or as a judge will create a successful event.
Eligibility requirement
All members of EastSide Madison Toastmasters are eligible to compete in either or both of the contests.
Guests are welcome to observe the contests.
Sign up.
Using the on-line sign up by navigating to our site : http://1366.toastmastersclubs.org , and logging in by clicking on Member Login. Click on Meeting Agendas. View the September 17 Agenda. At this point you can sign up as a contestant or a support person. If all the roles appear to be filled, post a meeting note telling us what role you'd like to fill. The more contestants and judges, the better!
An alternative option to the on-line sign up is to send an e-mail to Victoria Frank advising your intentions.
Winners will be EastSide Madison Toastmasters' representatives at the Area Contest
Area contest
A member of District 35's area C-4, our area contest will be held on the same day as the area C-2 contests.
When: Thursday, Oct. 4th
5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - Contestants' and Judges' Briefings
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. - Contests/ Awards
Where: Strand Associates, Inc.
910 W. Wingra Dr., Madison, WI 53715 (Google Map of Location: http://goo.gl/maps/aXtQM )
District Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - Neenah
WhenFri, November 2, 8am – Sat, November 3, 10pmWhereHoliday Inn Riverwalk Hotel, Neenah 123 East Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI (map)DescriptionDistrict 35 Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - NeenahJoin us in Neenah, WINovember 2-3, 2012Enjoy the Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests, take in the educational opportunities and reunite with your Toastmaster friends at the beautiful Holiday Inn Neenah Riverwalk Hotel.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Get the word out
Toastmasters has a lot to offer for those struggling for a change. Opportunities abound for people to practice activities that contribute to improved options for career advancement. Here's a short list (but there's more to be gained by joining):
I encourage all the EastSide Madison members to begin putting your skills to practice by participating in roles that will help you improve your evaluation and speaking skills. Ready yourselves to participate in the contests.
New members are always welcome! Come and visit one of our meetings and see for yourself the benefits you gain by joining our club.
We are a member of Toastmasters International - a not-for profit organization "Where Leaders are Made".
- Leading a meeting
- Providing feedback in a sensitive professional manner
- Improving speaking skills
- Using appropriate humor in a professional environment
- Improving your time management skills
- Coordinating events
I encourage all the EastSide Madison members to begin putting your skills to practice by participating in roles that will help you improve your evaluation and speaking skills. Ready yourselves to participate in the contests.
New members are always welcome! Come and visit one of our meetings and see for yourself the benefits you gain by joining our club.
We are a member of Toastmasters International - a not-for profit organization "Where Leaders are Made".
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Give me your Feedback
I continually seek out ways to self improve. One aspect I frequently focus on is how I am perceived. Do people understand what I am saying? Is what I am trying to communicate the same thing as what is heard?
At Toastmasters we practice our feedback skills by filling the role as evaluator. The ultimate role for feedback during the standard Toastmasters meeting is the General Evaluator. Who could ask for more? Evaluate my evaluation! How am I doing?
The June edition of the Toastmaster Magazine contains several articles that helps me as I provide feedback to other individuals. Contained are hints about eye contact, use of notes, organization of thoughts, and much more. Check it out! Specifically in this issue is the reminder that practice helps. I've read and heard many times that a successful strategy for self improvement involves practice. Stage time. Try it. Improve it. Try it again. By filling the roles of speech evaluator and general evaluator we get the stage time that each of us require to improve.
I frequently fill the role as the meeting's Toastmaster because I know I need to become better organized. I try to look back after each meeting to assess whether I forgot to share something or caused confusion by presenting some aspect of the meeting out of order. I really appreciate the feedback that I receive in the form of notes from fellow Toastmasters and from the General Evaluator.
Thank you, fellow Toastmasters for your feedback on how I'm doing. Keep it coming.
Karen Staebell
At Toastmasters we practice our feedback skills by filling the role as evaluator. The ultimate role for feedback during the standard Toastmasters meeting is the General Evaluator. Who could ask for more? Evaluate my evaluation! How am I doing?
The June edition of the Toastmaster Magazine contains several articles that helps me as I provide feedback to other individuals. Contained are hints about eye contact, use of notes, organization of thoughts, and much more. Check it out! Specifically in this issue is the reminder that practice helps. I've read and heard many times that a successful strategy for self improvement involves practice. Stage time. Try it. Improve it. Try it again. By filling the roles of speech evaluator and general evaluator we get the stage time that each of us require to improve.
I frequently fill the role as the meeting's Toastmaster because I know I need to become better organized. I try to look back after each meeting to assess whether I forgot to share something or caused confusion by presenting some aspect of the meeting out of order. I really appreciate the feedback that I receive in the form of notes from fellow Toastmasters and from the General Evaluator.
Thank you, fellow Toastmasters for your feedback on how I'm doing. Keep it coming.
Karen Staebell
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
You Can Not Drive the Bus from the Back Seat
You Can Not Drive the Bus from the Back Seat
Do you have a goal to improve your speaking skills?
Maybe your goal is larger, maybe you want to improve your leadership skills.
Along with Eastside Madison toastmasters you can be on the team that exudes energy. Use Toastmasters to help you practice generating and leading an energetic, positive, professional team.
Jon Gordon, author of the Energy Bus advises that we as leaders should think of ourselves as bus drivers. AND as bus drivers we must choose who we want on our busses. Mr. Gordan advises we should begin with getting all of the energy vampires, or people who sap our energy, off our bus. The next step is to surround ourselves with people who want to work as a team. Gordon offers many other tid bits about becoming a positive professional leader, but I want to add my own spin to his Energy Bus philosophy. I believe individuals, specifically you and I, who want to improve our leadership skills cannot drive the bus from the back seat.
I believe that Toastmasters is the right environment for practicing speaking and leadership skills, but to gain the most benefit, each one of us must move to the front of the bus and begin driving toward our individual goals. We cannot blame someone else that we are not communicating enough to the community at large. Each of us must take a stake in this responsibility and be a PR representative on behalf of our club.
Toastmasters International's Publicity and Promotion Manual "Let the World Know, " states that the responsibility of Public relations in a club is the responsibility of each and every club member.
When you open up the Competent Leadership Manual, you are provided many ideas in the leadership arena. When you write a newsletter articles, bring guests to meetings, assist with the club website you are demonstrating leadership. Take some time and thin k about your opportunities to lead. Step a little out of your comfort zone. Check out that driver's seat. Heck, you might like the view from the front of the bus! Maybe you will find that you really enjoy a role you have not before filled.
This year I was asked to take on the position of President. Before this was proposed to me, I contemplated taking on another officer role, but CERTAINLY NOT the role of President! I thought I'd take on a role that held less responsibility, but then I decided that I should move myself to the front of the bus and drive toward my personal goals.
Now I am telling every person who reads this blog that each of you can be THE leader. Take it at a pace that is comfortable to you, but step up a little more this year than you did last year.
The competent leadership manual gives you credit for becoming a mentor, for being editor of a newsletter, for helping out with the website, for coordinating a club event, and the list goes on. There's a reason for these recommended opportunities. They help the club become stronger AND they expose you to practicing your leadership skills.
Remember, you can NOT drive the bus from the Back seat!
If you're not a member, join us and find out how fun it is to learn and be with good people.
Karen Staebell
President, EastSide Madison Toastmasters
Do you have a goal to improve your speaking skills?
Maybe your goal is larger, maybe you want to improve your leadership skills.
Along with Eastside Madison toastmasters you can be on the team that exudes energy. Use Toastmasters to help you practice generating and leading an energetic, positive, professional team.
Jon Gordon, author of the Energy Bus advises that we as leaders should think of ourselves as bus drivers. AND as bus drivers we must choose who we want on our busses. Mr. Gordan advises we should begin with getting all of the energy vampires, or people who sap our energy, off our bus. The next step is to surround ourselves with people who want to work as a team. Gordon offers many other tid bits about becoming a positive professional leader, but I want to add my own spin to his Energy Bus philosophy. I believe individuals, specifically you and I, who want to improve our leadership skills cannot drive the bus from the back seat.
I believe that Toastmasters is the right environment for practicing speaking and leadership skills, but to gain the most benefit, each one of us must move to the front of the bus and begin driving toward our individual goals. We cannot blame someone else that we are not communicating enough to the community at large. Each of us must take a stake in this responsibility and be a PR representative on behalf of our club.
Toastmasters International's Publicity and Promotion Manual "Let the World Know, " states that the responsibility of Public relations in a club is the responsibility of each and every club member.
When you open up the Competent Leadership Manual, you are provided many ideas in the leadership arena. When you write a newsletter articles, bring guests to meetings, assist with the club website you are demonstrating leadership. Take some time and thin k about your opportunities to lead. Step a little out of your comfort zone. Check out that driver's seat. Heck, you might like the view from the front of the bus! Maybe you will find that you really enjoy a role you have not before filled.
This year I was asked to take on the position of President. Before this was proposed to me, I contemplated taking on another officer role, but CERTAINLY NOT the role of President! I thought I'd take on a role that held less responsibility, but then I decided that I should move myself to the front of the bus and drive toward my personal goals.
Now I am telling every person who reads this blog that each of you can be THE leader. Take it at a pace that is comfortable to you, but step up a little more this year than you did last year.
The competent leadership manual gives you credit for becoming a mentor, for being editor of a newsletter, for helping out with the website, for coordinating a club event, and the list goes on. There's a reason for these recommended opportunities. They help the club become stronger AND they expose you to practicing your leadership skills.
Remember, you can NOT drive the bus from the Back seat!
If you're not a member, join us and find out how fun it is to learn and be with good people.
Karen Staebell
President, EastSide Madison Toastmasters
Friday, April 20, 2012
President and Vice-President of Education
This series concludes with the final two officers to be discussed: the club President and VP of Education. These two roles are considered the top two officer positions in the club. The reason for this is that the President and VP-Education automatically get votes in the District Executive Council. The "DEC" meets twice a year at the District Fall Conference and Spring Convention. Matters dealing with the District as a whole are voted on and discussed. So, these two officers form a link between the club and district as they represent the club at these DEC meetings.
Now let's look at each officer position.
VP of Education - The VP of Education is considered the second-ranking officer behind the President. The VP of Education's main focus is all things educational about the club, primarily the progress of the members through Toastmaster's educational tracks. In our club, the VP of Education passes around a signup sheet for the next 5 meetings. Members sign up for the roles they want to do. The VP of Ed then fills remaining holes in the agenda via in-meeting anoouncements and through e-mail. This officer also initials members' speech and leadership manuals after each meeting, and submits award applications when a member achieves a communication or leadership designation. The VP of Education also is responsible for scheduling club speech contests and recruiting members to serve as contestants or judges.
President - This is the top officer role in the club. The president is the club contact for other Toastmaster entities. If Toastmasters International needs to pass some important information to the clubs, then the letter or e-mail is sent to the President. He/she is contacted by the Area Governor frequently, most importantly to schedule the Area Governor's semi-annual visit. Within the club, the President works with the other officers to make sure that meetings are scheduled and run well. They should also verify that Toastmasters rules and regulations are being followed. They also open and close the club meetings and conduct the business portion of the meeting. You may also think of the President as the "face" of the club. They help set the mood an tenor of the club meetings and the club as a whole. Many newer members think that the President must be the hardest of the roles because of all that has to be done. But remember, officer opportunities exist to help members learn leadership skills. By practicing delegation, the president does not have to feel that he/she must do it alone. Sometimes the office serves as a springboard to other Toastmaster postitions out side of the club -- for example, Area Governor.
Our club will hold officer elections in May. Please read my earlier post where I descibe the various reasons why someone would become an officer. Please consider taking on one of the 7 roles. You'll enjoy the discovery of your own leadership strengths, and you'll be helping your club stay strong and provide an environment where all club members can grow and flourish.
Now let's look at each officer position.
VP of Education - The VP of Education is considered the second-ranking officer behind the President. The VP of Education's main focus is all things educational about the club, primarily the progress of the members through Toastmaster's educational tracks. In our club, the VP of Education passes around a signup sheet for the next 5 meetings. Members sign up for the roles they want to do. The VP of Ed then fills remaining holes in the agenda via in-meeting anoouncements and through e-mail. This officer also initials members' speech and leadership manuals after each meeting, and submits award applications when a member achieves a communication or leadership designation. The VP of Education also is responsible for scheduling club speech contests and recruiting members to serve as contestants or judges.
President - This is the top officer role in the club. The president is the club contact for other Toastmaster entities. If Toastmasters International needs to pass some important information to the clubs, then the letter or e-mail is sent to the President. He/she is contacted by the Area Governor frequently, most importantly to schedule the Area Governor's semi-annual visit. Within the club, the President works with the other officers to make sure that meetings are scheduled and run well. They should also verify that Toastmasters rules and regulations are being followed. They also open and close the club meetings and conduct the business portion of the meeting. You may also think of the President as the "face" of the club. They help set the mood an tenor of the club meetings and the club as a whole. Many newer members think that the President must be the hardest of the roles because of all that has to be done. But remember, officer opportunities exist to help members learn leadership skills. By practicing delegation, the president does not have to feel that he/she must do it alone. Sometimes the office serves as a springboard to other Toastmaster postitions out side of the club -- for example, Area Governor.
Our club will hold officer elections in May. Please read my earlier post where I descibe the various reasons why someone would become an officer. Please consider taking on one of the 7 roles. You'll enjoy the discovery of your own leadership strengths, and you'll be helping your club stay strong and provide an environment where all club members can grow and flourish.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Club Officers (cont.) - The Treasurer
Of all the officer roles in Toastmasters, the easiest one for someone to figure out the duties is the club treasurer. If it's the treasurer, it must have something to do with money, right?
Correct!
The treasurers main duty is to watch over the club's finances. More specifically, it is the treasurer who gets involved whenever money comes into or goes out from the club. The two busiest months for the treasurer are March & September -- because Toastmasters International requires all clubs to pay their renewal dues by April 1 and October 1. If the club is corporate-based, the treasurer uses those preceding months to work with the corporation to receive whatever monetary support is given to the club. If the club allows non-employee members, then the treasurer invoices those members for their dues. If the club is a "community" club such as ours, then the treasurer needs to contact all members to request their dues payments.
Outside of these two dues-paying periods, the treasurer would accept applications & checks from new members, then log on to TI and enter the app & payment. The treasurer also places orders for any Toastmaster supplies from International, and pays out reimbursements at the local level that are approved by the club president. And of course the treasurer receives the monthly bank statements & reconciles the club's check book.
As you can see, the treasurer's work seems to come in spurts. It requires someone with attention to detail and is a self-starter. If other officers need to keep reminding the treasurer to pay /collect dues, or they take weeks to enter a new member app, the club is going to feel the impact. Delays in paying member dues could affect whether a member receives an educational award they are due, or a member's eligibilty to compete in speech contests. This is a great officer role - even a good one for a first-time officer. As with all the officer positions, training is available from TI (through the officer manuals), the District (TLI/Officer Training) and former treasurers of your club.
Please consider taking on a club officer role. Our club will hold its elections in May for the 2012-13 Toastmasters year.
My final post on club officers will focus on the last two officer positions: VP of Education and President.
Correct!
The treasurers main duty is to watch over the club's finances. More specifically, it is the treasurer who gets involved whenever money comes into or goes out from the club. The two busiest months for the treasurer are March & September -- because Toastmasters International requires all clubs to pay their renewal dues by April 1 and October 1. If the club is corporate-based, the treasurer uses those preceding months to work with the corporation to receive whatever monetary support is given to the club. If the club allows non-employee members, then the treasurer invoices those members for their dues. If the club is a "community" club such as ours, then the treasurer needs to contact all members to request their dues payments.
Outside of these two dues-paying periods, the treasurer would accept applications & checks from new members, then log on to TI and enter the app & payment. The treasurer also places orders for any Toastmaster supplies from International, and pays out reimbursements at the local level that are approved by the club president. And of course the treasurer receives the monthly bank statements & reconciles the club's check book.
As you can see, the treasurer's work seems to come in spurts. It requires someone with attention to detail and is a self-starter. If other officers need to keep reminding the treasurer to pay /collect dues, or they take weeks to enter a new member app, the club is going to feel the impact. Delays in paying member dues could affect whether a member receives an educational award they are due, or a member's eligibilty to compete in speech contests. This is a great officer role - even a good one for a first-time officer. As with all the officer positions, training is available from TI (through the officer manuals), the District (TLI/Officer Training) and former treasurers of your club.
Please consider taking on a club officer role. Our club will hold its elections in May for the 2012-13 Toastmasters year.
My final post on club officers will focus on the last two officer positions: VP of Education and President.
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