Leadership - Is It for You
b'Is Leadership For You ?\\n\\n2014 is the year! Toastmasters International turns 90 on Oct 22. District 42 turns 60 on July 1. Both celebrations were earmarked by our special guest, Toastmasters International President Mohammed Murad. The theme was leadership.\\n\\nThe venue was the District 42 Fall Conference November 7, 8 and 9 in Calgary, CANADA\\xa0- Pictures are courtesy of Richard Mowry\\n\\nYou can learn more about Mohammed Murad by reading the web edition\\xa0September 2014 issue of the Toastmaster Magazine - page 22.\\n\\nDuring this 3-day event, President Murad presented several inspiring keynotes on leadership and communications. Of leadership development, President Murad reflected on several leadership virtues based on his journey of leadership growth in Toastmasters, some \\xa0comprising of simple and fundamental facets.\\n\\nHe began with the penultimate question everyone asks, \\u201cIs Leadership For Me\\xa0?\\u201d\\n\\nHe shared how his path in Toastmasters was launched by being asked a simple question; by a single person. \\u201cHave you ever attended a Toastmasters meeting?\\u201d. He encouraged us to be that single person and ask that simple question of others we meet. This is our mentorship growth in its infancy.\\n\\nHe talked of the many opportunities within the Toastmasters organization for everyone and how they form the springboard for advanced leadership development both inside and outside of Toastmasters.\\n\\nHe told us to become cognizant of opportunities when they appear as \\u201cforks in the road\\u201d, and how important split second decisions are for us in accepting challenges, taking us to new plateaus of leadership.\\n\\nHe spoke of how we reflect on our own past failures and ask ourselves, \\u201cWhy is this happening?\\u201d Perhaps some aspects were beyond our control, but can we do something different next time to alleviate or minimize the downside ? Reflection helps us hone our leadership skills in future leadership opportunities.\\n\\nYes - Leadership is For You\\n\\nHe spoke of maintaining integrity, when acting on leadership decisions. He identified risk and failure being prominent, but also to not take failure as terminal, but a mere opportunity to leverage us forward.\\n\\nPresident Murad challenged each of us to find and define our own originality of leadership; understanding our leadership and then conveying it. Typically the discussions ask if leaders or born or made. But President Murad further widened the opportunity by saying that each of us can and should develop our own genuine style of leadership.\\n\\nHis gracious and sharing keynote culminated with the answer \\u201cYes, Leadership is for You !\\u201d\\nWatch other videos on my YouTube channel by clicking on this link'