A year of learning

With the 2015-16 E team leaving office this week, we took time to reflect on the things we've learnt this year. Here's some of our combined wisdom.

• There are many different leadership styles and no single approach is always right.
• Different people are different: different goals, different values, different aims, different communication styles.
• Every team has its strengths and weaknesses. It's important to understand them, play to the strengths and account for the weaknesses.
• Toastmasters clubs are diverse. All of their different approaches can and do work. They all need and deserve support to be who they are.
• Planning in advance is important. No, even more important than you think!
• Communicate early, communicate often...
• ... but, people don't read emails.
• Bureaucracy is a reality of life; being able to work within and around it is a strength.

And the final tip from this year's team...

... together, we can achieve more than any of us could do individually.

Division E team 2015-16 (photo taken 26 June 2016)

(L-R) Kai Chan, E10; Rob Barton-Howes, E9; Owen Winter, E6; Gael Price, Division E; Simon Lin, E1; Sam Masters, E3; Larrie Talbot, workshops coordinator; Amanda Hillock, E2; Susan Dugdale, marketing manager

Absent: Mike Mckee, E7; Alice Chu, events manager

Happy new Toastmasters year from the outgoing E team!