If you're like most Toastmasters, you aren't just a Toastmaster. Often, you're also the Toastmaster. You're also a speaker. You're also a backup for the "ah" counter. You're also on the membership committee. At the last meeting--which was only your fourth after joining the organization--you were asked to take on the office of vice president for education.
(Oh, and you also have a life, by which I mean a career, a family, and obligations outside the realm of your local Toastmasters club.)
If you're like me, you wear a lot of hats--and that can lead to a horrible case of burnout.
I launched this blog several months ago as the final element of the "President's eToastmasters Initiative"--the big project that I like to think of as my legacy at Toastmasters Beckley. While I was doing this, I was also performing the standard presidential duties, in addition to serving as the vice president for public relations, the treasurer, the de facto secretary, and an area governor. Did I have a lot going on? Yes.
When you have a lot going on, it's easy to let some things fall by the wayside. Perhaps that's understandable. What's important, however, is that you center yourself, find your drive, and press on with the important work that must be done. Even when you're not leading effectively, there are leadership lessons to be learned. Perhaps especially then.
What lesson has Toastmasters taught me about fighting burnout? I'm not alone, and neither are you.
I'm just one of 200,000 other Toastmasters, all of whom are juggling complementary (and sometimes competing) obligations. We all have times when we're working on a big project, and have to stop to work on smaller ones. In the midst of those overwhelming times, however, we can't hesitate to call up our fellow Toastmasters and say, "Hey, I need your help."
Toastmasters International wants to help you learn the principles of leadership: organizing, delegating, and teamwork. Go to http://reports.toastmasters.org/findaclub and start your own journey toward discovering your inner leader at a club near you. Or, if you're in the Greater Beckley area, come to the Region 1 WORKFORCE West Virginia career center on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, at 6:00 pm. We'd be glad to have you.
Joseph L. Chambers, CC, ALB
Interim Secretary & Immediate Past President
Toastmasters Beckley
No comments:
Post a Comment