“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
These words, first shared by Stephen Covey, were repeated on Monday by Daniel Rex, the CEO of Toastmasters International.
Toastmasters is an international volunteer organisation where I have improved my public speaking, learned how to give and receive constructive feedback and gained more self-confidence, among many other things. It is also a place where I have met incredible people and life-long friends. One of the aspects I value most is the community. It is positive, supportive and international.
On the 18th and 19th of August, I attended District Leader Training in Philadelphia. Members from all over the world came together to learn and connect. I am currently serving as Club Growth Director for District 95, which consists of 140 clubs in Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden. I am responsible for growing the membership across the whole District. It is a lot of responsibility, but I love the challenge of bringing the value, meaning and enjoyment that Toastmasters has given me to more people.
We had many different trainings on topics such as strategy, communication and our specific roles. One of my key takeaways is the importance of focus, captured well by the Covey quote. When I return to Sweden, I will take some time to reflect on the ideas, the inspiring conversations and the notes I have gathered, and then decide what to focus on.
I highly recommend Toastmasters. In my view, the best way to understand what it is about is to visit a club meeting. With clubs in 148 countries, there is a good chance there is one near you.
Toastmasters District Leader Training in Philadelphia
