In Toastmasters, you learn to lead. You do it by giving feedback to speakers, serving as a club officer or mentoring other members. With the leadership skills you gain, you empower others to accomplish their personal goals.
Leaders run businesses and inspire employees. They coach teams and guide people in need. They step into leadership roles, like planning Toastmasters speech contests or leading club meetings. The world needs such people. As populations grow and cultures become more diverse, strong, competent leaders are more vital than ever.
How do you define leadership? Here is how others define it.
“It’s hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.”
—ADLAI E. STEVENSON II
“The well-balanced, intelligent speaker is the natural leader in any group of which he is a part.”
—RALPH C. SMEDLEY
“There are leaders and there are those who lead. Leaders hold a position of power or influence. Those who lead inspire us.”
“A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.”
—ARNOLD H. GLASOW
“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”
“Average leaders raise the bar on themselves; good leaders raise the bar for others; great leaders inspire others to raise their own bar.”
“Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.”
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.”
“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.”
“There are three essentials to leadership: humility, clarity and courage.”