Page 25 - 2019 March Voices

I propose that an attitude of gratitude, in the face of all that

life dishes out, is the one force that cannot be refuted or denied.

on more responsibility in more demanding in jeopardy. There is no legitimate reason for
leadership roles, what’s your reaction? clubs not to secure training for current officers.

If you are feeling grateful, good for you! Do It’s important!
you hear that call to higher duty? Are you feeling However, what about those of you who think
an urge to give back to Toastmasters of your time you might be interested in leadership, but no
and talent out of a grateful heart? one has taken the first step to reach out to you

If you said “yes,” let’s talk about the other yet? This is where succession planning happens.
meaning for succeeding—for instance, who is Successful clubs don’t wait until the last minute
going to succeed the VP of Education in your to find replacements for officers whose terms are
club? Who is going to fill their shoes next year? expiring. Successful clubs plan ahead, provide

To make this happen seamlessly, we need to plan leadership opportunities, probe members
for success with a “succession plan.” to determine their readiness, and use all the
What is the primary reason for having a resources Toastmasters provides to plan for a
succession plan? I propose that it is orderliness. smooth transition.

Have you ever come to a meeting where no one is Let me conclude by asking another question.
sure what’s going on, and no one has a confirmed If you have been a Toastmaster for a year, given
agenda? In other words, the meeting was in speeches regularly, and are growing in confidence,
complete disarray? It happens much too often. why stop now? Ask yourself “Am I growing, and

The same principles apply to succession do I want to continue to grow?”
planning. How often have new leaders been If anything I have offered herein has resonated
selected at the last minute, with no opportunity with you, please contact the president of your
for training and the resulting chaos that ensues? club, your local Area Director, or someone else

Wouldn’t it be better to identify people months in in leadership, and let them know you desire
advance, and then systematically prepare them more from Toastmasters. Now is the time to
to hit the ground running? make the decision. Now is the time to seek out
Toastmasters has many programs in place to training. Now is the time for the club to provide

help a club train the next generation of leaders. that training. And, now is the time for all of
When it does, it gets a Distinguished Club Point. us to grow both personally and professionally
Training on a District level is offered several times through the implementation and prioritization
a year. Area and Division directors are prepared of a Toastmaster club succession plan

to fill the gap and train those who can’t make Robert Hall joined Toastmasters in 2016. He is
the official training sessions. Too often, clubs do a member of Professionally Speaking. He is currently
not give officer training a priority. As a result, serving as VP Education.
the club’s potential to achieve success is placed

VOICES! | MARCH 2019 25