Facilitative Leadership I strongly believe an organization is only as successful as the people who embody it. The best leadership therefore empowers the individuals to self-actualize his/her wellspring of potential. Through the realization of each participant’s personal vision, the entire organization gains the energy and creativity to innovate fresh value and evolve with our changing world. Facilitative leadership and applying the tools of coaching are my preferred way of empowering and achieving. Two Toastmasters Advanced Manuals: Facilitating Discussion and Interpersonal Communications focus on this skill of eliciting new discoveries, insights and perspectives. Facilitative leaders do this by integrating contributions from all participants and bringing to the group’s awareness the wisdom of the collective. This approach is different from the conventional decision-maker leader who seeks to control a group and dictates the answers to problems. Facilitative leaders provide direction through inquiring into the individual and group’s underlying intentions then through dialogue focus the conversation towards a shared vision. Coaching is a key skill to facilitative leadership because it aims to build individual and group capacity to accomplish more on one’s own, now and in the future. Coaching honors the individual as the expert in his/her life and affirms that every person is inherently resourceful and whole. Through discovering, clarifying and aligning the intentions of the individual with the group and reality, coaches uphold accountability between the participants’ visions and the goals defined. Facilitation and Coaching are two extremely practical skills; as shown by Toastmasters members who have built successful careers in these fields. This affirms the relevance of what we learn through our Advanced Manuals to real needs in the marketplace and society. I have always felt particular pride in knowing that Toastmasters prepares our members with life skills; that by joining this organization, you gain much more than merely overcoming stage fright. Toastmasters gives the individual invaluable means for realizing one’s potential. As an organization, we hold the highest standards to ourselves for embodying our personal and collective vision. This is what motivates me to facilitate the empowerment and achievements of others to likewise tap into and nurture our unlimited potential through self affirmation! |