Page 16 - Voices-2022.05
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FROM THE DESK
Lessons Learned at
the Annual Conference
Lorri Andersen, DTM
Program Quality Director
As I reflect on our 2022 Annual Conference and you don’t know what to do, ask for help. There
Speech Contests, I am grateful for everyone who are many written resources available to leaders,
put in the time and effort to make our event a we just need to read and study. He likened
success. Thank you to our Keynote Speakers, Toastmasters to Leadership for Dummies.
Conference Team, Contestants, Contest Chair Learn how to learn from failure, the choice is
and Team, Chief Judge and Team, and Zoom ours. Be resilient, use failure as a steppingstone
Masters. I am thankful that our attendees were to our next success and propel ourselves forward.
able to hear great Keynote Speeches and learn Be positive, be Toastmaster positive. The
from our District’s best contestants. most important thing is to live the core values,
On Friday night, Mr. Deepak Menon, DTM, respect, integrity, service, and excellence. Ego
PIP (International President 2019-2020) shared has no place. The less ego you have the more you
his Leadership Lessons Learned in Toastmasters. are successful. Remember the inverted pyramid,
With a sense of humor and engaging the servant leader is at the bottom.
conversation, he inspired us to continue the How are you using the life skills and lessons
next step in our journey. Always say YES when you learned in Toastmasters? Use them for the
opportunities knock, never say no. Experience benefit of others. Be the best you can be.
everything and move forward in new paths. We were challenged by International Speaker
“Toastmasters,” he exclaimed, “is the best and Coach Nathan Cook. Have you ever felt stuck
business school in the world to learn leadership and dry in your mind, like you have stopped
lessons and life skills.” Here are some of his learning? Learn to keep your growth fresh.
thoughts: when organizing a team, have a vision Learning from Dr. John Maxwell as his mentor,
and create clear goals; accept feedback from all Nathan was taught to live intentionally.
sorts of people; and, actively listen. People normally don’t grow because it is
Find a good mentor, not just one, but multiple often uncomfortable and hurts as we must make
mentors. If you don’t have one right now, a choices that go against our habits. We’re not
mentor will appear when you need them. If effective as people unless we’ve been stretched.
16 ONE COMMUNITY
