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I’ve led services with only male singers, and
I’ve led services where I was the only male
singer in an ensemble with five females. I
never know who’s going to show up to sing,
and I seldom have all the right people on
all the right voice parts to make everything
sound perfect. Whatever unusual voice
arrangement I must lead, I must identify
it and determine how I’m going to have
everyone sing together for the best sound.
District leadership is a bit like this, as
well. I know that our team will probably
never schedule an event everyone can attend.
Inevitably, someone will find that they cannot
attend a training event because of a scheduling
conflict. We will have to do something to
schedule makeup events to fit our schedule and
theirs. This requires some flexibility.
Conclusion
Now that I’ve completed this short
exploration of the similarities between leading
Director training this Saturday.” “Area Directors, an ensemble of church singers and leading a
I want you to visit your clubs once a month if Toastmasters District, I hope you will see what
possible.” I don’t communicate as much through insights I bring to my role as a District Director
my hands and arms as I do when I’m directing a from my ministry as a church music director. My
choir, but my goal is still the same: communicate church’s chief music director (coincidentally, the
clearly what I want from my team in a language son of a past District 7 Governor) has already seen
they understand. how my experience in Toastmasters leadership
has made me a stronger music leader. The two
Flexibility roles do feed each other. Hence, the title of my
When leading the singers at my church, I need Voices! column.
to recognize who’s singing with me. I’ve led the
music for services where I was the only singer.
VOICES! | JULY 2021 13
