You're probably already hearing a lot about leading your district.  One popular phrase in recent years has been "transformational leadership", and it's something that can be extremely valuable to us as volunteer leaders. That sounds great, but what is it, and how can you do this?

Transformational leaders motivate their team members, not just to "do their job", but to go above and beyond. These leaders don't just motivate, they inspire their team members to connect, grow, and take responsibility. Their team members feel seen as individuals, supported, and encouraged, because their transformational leader is essentially mentoring each one of them.

How can you be a transformational leader? There are so many ways! 

• A truly transformational leader serves as a positive role model for their team. They're someone who is trusted and respect, and who consistently demonstrates Toastmasters' core values of Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence. 
• This leader has a clear path or vision, and their passion and example inspires team members to support and build this. 
• The transformational leader connects with each team members, so they feel seen, valued, and welcome. They're invested not only in getting the job done, but in growing each member into new leaders. (Hint: this is also a great way to ensure your district has plenty of up and coming leaders!)
• Transformational leaders aren't "box-checkers". While they definitely want to get things done, they're usually looking for innovative ways to achieve goals, motivate team members, and think outside that box of "we've always done it that way". That doesn't mean they're throwing out everything that's been done before, but it does create an atmosphere where new ideas are encouraged, assessed, and potentially implemented.

Why be a transformational leader? Transformational leaders make a big difference in so many ways! Seeing your team as important people, individually, is incredibly helpful in bringing out new ideas and achieving objectives. There's more, though - transformational leaders create an atmosphere for new leaders to grow and develop their own skills, creating a strong pool of leaders for the years to come. That's a great way to plan for your district's - and your own - future, and to create a lasting impact.