Page 46 - June-2021-Voices

FIELD NOTES

Pass the Torch

Help Your Successor Blaze Their Own Trail

Jennifer Schmidt, EH2 - VP of Public Relations

New Horizons Toastmasters

Emerson was the name of my ghost. I replaced accomplished, as of July 1st, the slate will be clean.
him in a job once and felt like I knew the guy Ann will have the opportunity to fill it with her

because of the rave reviews I heard constantly own accomplishments as the club moves forward.
from my new coworkers. I often would hear Toastmasters gives members wonderful
ALL the wonderful things Emerson used to do opportunities to volunteer in various leadership
before he left for another opportunity. They were roles and learn to manage them effectively. The

“happy” for him of course, but really missed final part of any role is a smooth transition to
him. They couldn’t let go of how things used to the next leader. The following steps are how I
be and those same memories haunted me. transitioned my role to Ann in hopes that she
The ongoing comparison made my job will be ready to start confidently on Day One.

impossible. No matter how hard I tried, I wasn’t I believe these could also help any new leader’s
Emerson and existed within his larger than life process be an easier one.
shadow. It was cold and lonely there, but it also
taught me an important lesson. If you want to Initial Conversation Sets the Tone

ensure someone doesn’t succeed, keep comparing My first post-election conversation with Ann
them to the previous person. was the starting point. I found out how she was
This time I am the one transitioning out of feeling about the VPPR position and gave her
my position as Vice President of Public Relations specific information about the weekly duties.

(VPPR) for New Horizons. Ann Kroetch is Answering initial questions and giving some
our new club VPPR starting July 1st. I had a of the behind the scenes information gave her
wonderful year, learned a lot, and explored the a more detailed picture of the role. We also
various ways to promote our club in the new discussed the fact that my way of working was

virtual environment. The icing on the cake was my preference. She would find her own way too!
becoming a covergirl for Voices! just last month.
Last July I had no idea what the year Mentoring vs. Micromanaging
would hold or how the pandemic would affect One thing I emphasized in our conversation

everything. When Ann starts, my fervent wish was that I didn’t want to micromanage her. As
is that she makes the role her own and is never the new VPPR, she and the new leadership team
compared to me. While I appreciate all the would decide how to best promote the club in
accolades and I’m extremely proud of what I the future. I did share my current resources as a

46 ONE COMMUNITY