Leading Club Success�(“Are We There Yet?”)

Jim Jameson, D25 Pathways Coordinator

April 2024

V3.1 04/02/24 JimJameson83@gmail.com

Leading Club Success

Objectives – To understand:

• What factors lead to club success?
• How are we doing in this club?
• How can we be more successful?

1. Are we successful?

2. How do you know?

Success Planning (for any organization)

• WHY – Mission / Vision / Big Goals (aspirational)
• Why do we exist? How do we define Success?
• HOW – Directions / Strategies for Success (qualitative)
• How to approach our goals? What are key success factors?
• WHAT – Specific actions / Tactics (quantitative)
• How do we execute our strategy? How do we measure Success?

Club Mission+

Moments of Truth

DCP

• WHY – Mission / Vision / Big Goals (aspirations)

Examine/Reaffirm Club Mission and Goals (What is Success – for me / us?)

• Individual Goals – What’s In It for each member? (TI Club Mission)
• Collective Goals – What is our culture? What keeps us together and makes us special?� (especially for Corporate or Special Interest clubs)

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Toastmasters Club Mission:  �We provide a supportive and positive learning experience, in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.

• HOW -- Toastmasters International - Moments of Truth� -- Key strategies and indicators of club success, based on quality & service.

1. First Impressions
2. Membership Orientation
3. Fellowship, Variety, and Communication
4. Program Planning & Meeting Organization
5. Membership Strength
6. Achievement Recognition

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How do each of these support my/our WHY?

1. First Impressions

• Guests greeted warmly and introduced to officers & members
• Guest book and name tags provided
• Professionally arranged meeting room
• Convenient meeting location
• Guests invited to address the club
• Guests invited to join

2 Membership Orientation

• Education programs and recognition system discussed
• Learning needs assessed
• Assignment of mentor
• Accommodations for members with disabilities
• Speaking role(s) assigned
• Member involved in club activities

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3. Fellowship, Variety, and Communication

• Guests greeted warmly
• Enjoyable, educational meetings
• Regularly-scheduled social events
• Participation in Area, District, and International events
• Inter-club events
• Club newsletter and/or website–updated regularly

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4. Program Planning & Meeting Organization

• Program and agenda publicized in advance
• Members are prepared to carry out all program assignments
• All projects are from Pathways
• Meetings begin and end on time
• Creative Table Topics™ and activities
• Positive and helpful evaluations

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5. Membership Strength

• Club has 20 or more members
• Members are retained
• Promotion in club’s organization or community
• Club programs are varied and exciting
• Toastmasters sponsoring new members are recognized
• Regular membership-building programs

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6. Achievement Recognition

• Award applications promptly submitted to World Headquarters
• Progress chart displayed and maintained
• Member achievements recognized with ceremony/certificate
• Club, District, and International leaders recognized
• Club and member achievements publicized
• DCP used for planning and recognition

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• WHAT �(Tactics/Measures)

Distinguished Club Program (DCP)

(the key measure of club success)

Example

How can we be more successful in this club?

• Examine/Reaffirm Club Mission and Goals (What is Success -- Our WHY?)
• Individual (TI Club Mission) vs. Collective (for Corporate or Special Interest clubs)
• Workshop on Moments of Truth & DCP -- Strategies/Opportunities
• Among officers or full club (with optional survey on next slide)
• Pathways Training for club and/or individuals
• With mentoring to ensure Pathways adoption and awards!

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Something else to think about …

• Consider Goodhart’s Law, which states that:� “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.”
• So don’t focus only on checking the boxes for DCP – � Keep the WHY and HOW as the primary focus and the DCP will happen!

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This is especially important for Corporate or Special Interest clubs that may have three types of WHY – (Individual, Group, and Company) – with different measures for each! Find the common HOW!

HOW are we doing in this club?

• Worksheet Handout Survey (for in-person meetings)
• Rate each category 1-5 {5=best}
• Jot down comments or suggestions on any of the standards, especially on challenges/opportunities
• Survey (for virtual meetings) - Rate each category (see link in chat 🡪 sample)
• Surveys go to President or VPE (to summarize)

This workshop slide is optional – per request by Club Officers

Handout

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Final Points to Ponder

• Club Success -- Whose job is it anyway?
• Where else would these success factors be useful?

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Please let us know how we can help!

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Jim Jameson    M: 817-915-2159

JimJameson83@gmail.com 

    Toastmasters District 25, Pathways Coordinator

Backup/Reference Slides� �(from other presentations)

Why join volunteer groups or teams?

Goals/Motivations – What’s In It For Me?

-- What’s In It For Others?

Goals/Motivations – WIIFM?

1. Learning – Skills/Knowledge/Growth
2. Relating – Friendships/Belonging
3. Creating – Self Expression/Sharing
4. Doing – Fulfillment/Fun/Experience
5. Serving – Purpose/Calling/Leadership

WHY Do We Do Things We Don’t Have To?

WIIFO? – Helping Others

• Empower (Find & feed interests/strengths)
• Include (Connect/Remove barriers)
• Inspire (Sow seeds & ideas)
• Invite (Create opportunities)
• Support (Listen/Mentor)

JimJameson83@gmail.com 10/2019

• Study groups (Book club, Bible study, etc.)
• Experiential Learning clubs (TM, cars, pets, etc.)
• Creative groups (Sewing, writing, crafts, art, etc.)
• Musical ensembles (Singing, bands, dance, etc.)
• Service organizations (Rotary, Lions, missions, etc.)
• Sports leagues (Softball, bowling, Gladiator, etc.)
• Work Teams (Affinity groups, special projects, etc.)

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Why join?

Why stay?

WHY TM? The Benefits of Toastmasters Club Meetings

Jim Jameson 2019

JimJameson83@gmail.com 10/2020

Area Director Role (an important resource!)

• Visits each club about six times per TM year (July-June)
• Submit AD reports based on official club visits twice per year
• Advise officers as needed, especially on club success factors
• Serve as a key liaison to District staff and for TM resources

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LISTENING – Finding the WHYs

• Listen first to find their WHY – What’s in it for Them
• Seek first to understand, not to respond (Active Listening)
• Receive, Organize, Interpret what they are saying
• Then find your WHY – What’s In It For ME?
• Respond appropriately, demonstrating your understanding

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“Seek first to understand before being understood”

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- Stephen Covey (Habit 5)