Organisations know that losing effective leaders or managers with their experience, product knowledge and contacts can have a big impact on the company’s performance.

They also know that, for various reasons such as career advancement, health, retirement, people will leave and take their skills and knowledge with them.

This is why organisations make Succession Planning a vital part of the management process.

In Toastmasters, where we replace all our leaders every year – from the club level right through to the international board, succession planning becomes even more vital. Often we only have one year in which to learn our role and achieve the required goals. Then suddenly we are handing over to our successor!

We don’t want to be scrabbling at the end of our term, desperate to find someone, anyone, who will take on the job. What we do want is to know that the effort we’ve put in can and will be built on by our successor.

So when should we start looking for our successor? Well, the best time to plan who will be your successor is even before you take over the role. Look at those around you – ‘what do you see in them’ in terms of leadership ability. Often others don’t see themselves as leaders; don’t recognise their own skills or abilities and therefore don’t consider taking on a leadership role.

When we recognise others’ skills, tell them what we see and ask if they would consider being an assistant or chairing a committee, it can open a path they haven’t considered.

It also means you can start to develop their knowledge and understanding about your role; show them what a wonderful support team there is; show them that you can have fun in a leadership role. Then, when it comes time to find a successor they are less likely to be daunted or frightened by it.

Do you have a succession plan in place? Have you involved a number of potential leaders in your team and asked them to take on a role as your assistant or asked them to chair a project or committee?

Congratulations if you have – this is wonderful leadership. If not, can we encourage you to give it serious thought. As Area or Division Governor you probably have specific goals you want to achieve – this could be membership growth, clubs back to charter strength, new club opportunities. Being your assistant, or chairing a committee which tackles a specific goal, allows a fellow Toastmaster to play a vital part in the Area or Division’s success as well as become familiar with your role!

The District Nominating Committee will be calling for nominations for Area, Division and District roles between November 2014 and February 2015. Who will build on your hard work?

Marilyn Freeman

Chairman – D.69 Nominating Committee 2014-15

Toastmasters has, since it began, taken individuals and made them both different and better. It is an organization which has as its primary purpose, this commitment to personal development.

 In 2005 I joined this remarkable organisation, and I have been on many journeys including becoming World Champion of Public Speaking in 2009. On that journey, I honed my writing and speaking skills. These I blended with a passion for raising bonsais as a hobby to write my first book, THE VOICE OF THE BONSAI – A Conversation on Leadership.This book analyses nine leadership behaviours from the perspective of the relationship between the Bonsai Master and his/her trees.

 Each behaviour is treated in four ways; The Conversation, The Learning, The Stories, and The Exercise.

 The Conversation is between the Master and the Bonsai as they share their thinking about what it is to be the Mater, and what it is to be the Bonsai. I have used my speech writing skills developed in Toastmasters to write this conversation. These conversations have also been recorded on a CD.

 The Learning is the section in which I call upon my 30 years as a leader. This leadership was realized in schools, on Boards and as a leader in our organization and in the disability sector. The purpose of this section of each chapter is to develop and challenge the reader’s thinking about the leadership behaviour that is the focus of that chapter.

 As Toastmasters we know the value of storytelling.  I have used this important genre to support the learning that is the focus of the chapter. By using Stories primarily from my school leadership position, I have sought to develop a deeper understanding on the chapter topic. 

 The final section is The Exercise. I have always identified primarily as an educator – a teacher, and so I could not let the opportunity go to have readers interact with the focus of the chapter by asking them to think on their own behaviours.

Mark Hunter ATMs
World Champion of Public Speaking
District 69 Chief Ambassador

 While there are many books written on the subject of leadership, this book is innovative in its approach, calling upon both my leadership experience and my experience as a speaker.

 We are all leaders in this organization of ours. This book may support you in your leadership journey.

 The launch of this book will be on the 3^rd of August on the Gold Coast. Numbers are limited so let me know early should you wish to attend.

 Both the book and the CD are now available, and can be obtained by contacting Mark on mark-hunter@bigpond.com  .