Toastmasters Pathways High Performance Leadership (HPL) Project — The Polaris Project by Justin Yeh

Have you ever been to the Polaris Toastmasters Club?

How do you feel about the atmosphere and meeting quality there?

Do you find out there is a huge progress they’ve made from 2020 to 2021?

Let me give you some background information. At the end of March 2020, Jack and I chartered the Toastmasters Club. Besides Toastmaster club mission, we’d like to set up a “third place” and a sense of “big family” for everyone. Hoping no matter, you are a student, an office worker or a parent, you can be a happy Toastmaster and what’s more, finding your own Polaris Star, a symbol of direction and talent in your life. With the unique positioning, it was easy for us to recruit new members, some of them even attended our meeting once then decided to become the official members. Therefore, by the end of June 2020, we will have 27 members. Such a huge and promising club right?

But, after September 2020, we were reluctant to say goodbye to 60% of our members, with some personal reasons and career development, they couldn’t renew in that term. That means the rest of the members should take double or even triple assignments in a meeting. Plus, the unstable officers, we’ve changed VPM, VPPR and Treasurer many times during this term. I was shocked, helpless, then needed to face the music about Polaris TM becoming a struggle club at that time.

Until now, I do believe that every pathway has its meaning. High performance leadership may be the key method to solve the crisis Polaris witnessed. At the same time, thanks to the guidance of Alex, Regina, Edward, Joseph and all the experienced Toastmasters, I took away some useful tips to rebuild Polaris. There are three points I’d like to share with you.

First, refund the committee, rebuild their confidence and our mutual understanding, be honest and transparent. I gathered the rest of the officers and members who were willing to help. I told them the situation this club faced in Teresa’s house last year. I still remembered when I asked them, do we need a rescue coach to help? I was so moved that they all replied “we can rescue the club by ourselves”, and the truth is we do make it this term! After that, I finally learned how to do everything as teamwork, and I and Jack didn’t feel lonely anymore.

Second, enhance connection inside the club, then don’t hesitate to ask for help. In addition to interacting in regular meetings, I planned lots of scenarios to enhance mutual understanding for members. We had dinner with delicious stir fried after meeting for many times, we took a trip to 司馬庫斯, hiking, eating and sleeping together with our family members, it was such a great memory and milestone for the club. What’s more, I encourage members to attend other club’s meetings, and invite our Toastmasters friends to support us as GE, IE or LE without any hesitation.

Thirdly, appreciate and cheer for others, I took this tip from Alex. Thanks to the training of evaluation, I practice observing actively and praising in time. Then I find out as I cheer them up properly and do it in time, they may do something totally beyond my imagination, and impress me the most. For example, last Saturday, our SAA — Winter conducted the Polaris Time(Variety Session) in a very creative way. He even made a random program in excel to run a game with Olympic sport items and questions. That was the most impressive online game I’ve ever seen in a ZOOM meeting.

In fact, you may wonder why there’s no goal setting, no recruiting member number or educational achievements number in my HPL Plan? The reason is when I recognize that my leadership style is affiliation, so I emphasize most on refunding my committee, rebuild connections with every member and officer. On the other hand, since officers are already familiar with the Toastmasters meeting and DCP rules gradually, I think Polaris will be a distinguished club this term.

All in all, thanks to the HPL plan, we can have brand new Polaris. Now I’m the first IPP, and I highly recommend you to join our creative and innovative meeting on the 2nd and the 4th Saturday afternoon at 2–4.

Welcome to follow us on Facebook & Instagram, then attend our next meeting!