The Practice of Leadership and Toastmasters The world needs strong, competent leaders now more than ever before. Progress can happen only when someone assumes a leadership role – when someone decides there is a problem, a need or an injustice, and takes action to solve the problem, fulfill the need or correct the injustice. Perceiving this need for action originates from our state of being. An insight from Buddhism furthermore observes “we do not see the world for what it is. We see the world for what we are.” Leadership therefore starts with self-knowledge and continually strengthens it, which is precisely the heart of what we practice at Toastmasters. Socrates taught long ago that the unreflected experience is not worth having. Toastmasters to me is the special opportunity cultivate self awareness - about my habitual ways of attending to a task; and more profoundly about my relationship to power and ego. What have I learned through Toastmasters about leadership? Learn to lead in a nourishing manner Learn to lead without being possessive Learn to be helpful without taking credit. Learn to lead without coercion ~ The Tao of Leadership ~ George Yen, DTM, Candidate for 2nd Vice President |