I just came back from a huge 2½-day conference. You know, one of those big flashy “drink the Kool-Aid” kind of events that was spectacular from many points of view… the staging, lighting, sound, swag, and of course, the speakers. What conference? An annual Regional Rotary conference for training all of the incoming club presidents who will take over July 1st.
I’m a Rotarian in every sense of the word. I believe in the work many civic and volunteer organizations do. IMHO, being part of an organization like Rotary gives people a chance to blend their professional and personal lives in ways that benefit others. They’re also great for growing both professionally and personally because they provide opportunities for:
~ Increased visibility with like-minded folks. When you join an organization that touches both your head and your heart, you’ll have more in common with your fellow members than just the organization. The result is that as you start getting comfortable with sharing more about yourself, you’re bound to find more ways to work and grow with your fellow members too.
~ Building your confidence as a result of participating and interacting via committees, events, and boards. Each of these is an opportunity to interact and grow your communication skills, and your ability to zero in on the task at hand to convey your thoughts accurately.
~ Stepping into an organization’s leadership situations is not unlike stepping onto a stage. Your leadership skills will develop as you accept/volunteer to take on the responsibility of encouraging and leading others to do something meaningful. Your off-the-cuff speaking skills, personal strength, and resiliency will grow too.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to hear all 6 of the major speakers. As I listened to each one, I was very aware of how much Rotary has given back to me in terms of my own professional and personal development. Would I have progressed this far if I hadn’t said “yes” to so many of the opportunities it’s provided me over the years? I doubt it.
What I don’t doubt is how much I’ve grown because I did say yes. When I sat in the audience of the main stage speakers (and yes, they were all great speakers), a couple really stood out for me because they did things I try to do, and definitely encourage the speakers I work with to do too.
~ Their authenticity was evident. They spoke about what they knew, but they also found ways to make their stories and expertise relevant to their audience of Rotarians.
~ They articulated… which means they did their homework and spoke “Rotary,” in a Rotary way. They knew what would move us as Rotarians, and found ways to remind us of the value of our contributions, resulting in more than a few teary eyes, proud smiles, and full hearts.
~ They made themselves available. They were there before they were expected to take the stage, which had the event planner breathing a sigh of relief. They stuck around after they left the stage, which made the Rotarians who wanted to talk to them happy. In fact, the result of me sticking around after I was done speaking, was being asked to speak at someone else’s Rotary club!
One last thing. The reason I wrote this article was because the speakers I heard fired me up, and I think that’s a result we all want our audiences to experience in one way or another. Being a part of Rotary has provided me with so many opportunities to grow both professionally and personally, in ways that have helped me become a more confident, articulate, and authentic speaker. Is that something that might work for you too?