Here you can read Part 1 and Part 2
The next opportunities gave me the remaining tools I needed to enable and empower.
I had really thrown myself into this personal development side of life and was enjoying it immensely. I was soon asked to apply for Area Director, giving me oversight of five clubs and around 120 members. This brought in the new dynamic of trusting people I barely knew to undertake tasks towards a joint goal. It was tricky at first. But, I soon found my stride and noticed similarities between this and working with remote teams in my job.
I found I was able to help new people grow into leadership roles by using those mentoring skills I had learned all those years ago. I didn’t have to tell them how to do something I could just tell them the outcome I desired. My job was to guide them, check in with them and ensure they felt supported and encouraged. I made myself available and approachable. some needed more help than others but I soon learned to tap into their working styles quickly.
I also learned the power of persuasion. It’s amazing how influential you can become when you say quietly to someone “I can see you doing X. I think you’d be really great at that, why don’t you give it a try?”
The pinnacle of my leadership training to date with Toastmasters was being asked to serve on the District Leadership Team as Administration Manager. Our seven-person team guided 5,000+ members in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and England (North of London) through leadership and public speaking training journeys. The role involved travel, networking, senior-level responsibilities, and ensuring all milestones were completed on time and within budget
Hmmm doesn’t that sound familiar? – that was what I was doing as a Project Manager!
The skills I learned have also enabled me to spread my wings further. I have started my own business as a communications specialist helping Autistic adults at work/ in to work. I deliver keynotes on the Transition from Follower to Leader and also on Autism in the workplace.
In 2018, I put on the very first TEDxTelford with 15 live speakers and 100 people in the audience. I’m currently organising a second talk. Leading the organising team, coaching the speakers, MCing the event, and keeping everything on time and within budget, we sold out a week before the event.
In January 2018 I achieved the highest award for all my work in Toastmasters International and can now call myself a Distinguished Toastmaster. Without doubt Toastmasters has been instrumental in my personal development and has opened many doors for me in terms of work and relationships. I believe that in becoming self-aware I have become a nicer person to be around and I have a very full and happy life.
