InterviewwithTMGayathri

Being a leader how would you advise young leaders to plantheirpathinToastmasters?

DTM Gayathri: Many projects in Pathways take more time and they are the ones that give the best output There is a project that makes us observe our day-to-day thought process and journal. If we sincerely do this for 3 months, we can see the immense transformation Once we do the path, we need to go to the milestone task and complete it. Over a period of time, I have done this many times and suggested this to many of my protégés and this has given the best benefit.

When there's a leadership void in a club what are your ideastofixit?

DTM Gayathri: In our professional life, we rarely say NO to a leadership opportunity. So if the members are not interested, it either means they haven't seen the benefits fully or they have burnt out already. Speaking with members and helping them identify how this can help in their professional and personal life would help resolve this issue.

Proactively making the members listen to the benefits of a Toastmasters leadership journey and helping them create their leadership path would also benefit both the club and the members to make the best of the journey. Earlier in the competent leader program, there was a track that nurtured leaders with a set of tasks.

How do you see the revised system addressing that focus area?Howcanwedevelopmoreleadersinourclubs?

DTM Gayathri: Pathways integrate both communication and leadership journeys into a single path. Some of the projects require a lot of background work and effort and then the same needs to be presented as a speech. I believe this is an enhanced version of achieving leadership skills. In terms of the requirements such as performing roles in club meetings, pathways don't provide credits, however, we do have Rock Star and Emerging Rock Star recognition in our District that will encourage members to accomplish the same