The New Pathways -- Successful Collaboration

This is a project which every Toastmaster should attempt whether within or without Toastmasters. The goal is to share some aspect of the experience practicing collaboration within a small team.

To be successful, when working with people, a leader needs to be flexible and not be rigid. Initially, my ice breaker to engage the EASB Exco members were centered around 3 questions on Pathways.

After some small talks (before meeting proper), I realised that none of them had started with Pathways and that they were still on the traditional hard copy manuals! So I had to modify the activity and asked the EASB Exco to brainstorm, in two groups, two things they "like" about the old system and one thing they "do not quite like". I then asked both groups to share their consensus results on the whiteboard.

As all Toastmasters in District 80 who joined after 26 July 2017 are now required to do Pathways, I shared with them the "ins and outs" of the new educational system including the initial hurdles and pains. Indeed, Pathways is the future of Toastmasters and getting EASB Exco members to first embrace Pathways is just the beginning.

We went on to brainstorm on how to engage newer members and to encourage them to do project speeches. This was done with the assistance of Area Director, Louis Wong. On the whole, it was a very productive evening with much work still to be done.    

Chew Ban Seng DTM

Past District Governor