Sparking Innovation
4 11 2009Area Governor Gary McGinnis sends along the following article by Harvey Mackay, noting
I saw this article in yesterday’s Examiner. I think it could help TM officers encourage success in their clubs etc. as well as at work.
District Governor John Lesko was just a tad more enthusiastic.
Attached is a news clipping worth sharing w/ others in our district. “Spark innovation in your company” includes a number of management axioms which I believe are right in line w/ the spirit of Toastmasters. For example:
* “Start close to home … Improve on what already works” … Yeap, our best clubs do exactly that when they achieve 5 DCP goals one year and then stretch for earning 7 or 9 the following year.
* “Tolerate risk. Expect some failures, and treat them as learning experiences” … Sound like serving as a club officer, area governor, or (gulp) a district governor.
* “Start the clock. A deadline creates urgency and excitement.” … Who will be the first person in each area to earn his or her CC award? Who will be the club that best leverages the 3 proclamations (VA, MD, DC) which announced that OCTOBER was officially Toastmasters’ Month?
* “Reward your team” … Enuff said … We’re going to do this at our District Fall Conference Hall of Fame.
Wow! Great article … But I’m not certain that Gary McGinnis knows the rest of the story …
* He e-mailed to me an article from one of my favorite authors: Harvey Mackay. I’ve received first hand encouragement from this former CEO and renowned motivational speaker.
* Harvey Mackay is also a former recipient of Toastmasters International’s GOLDEN GAVEL Award.
* He’s the author of a number of books on leadership and management. In at least two of these books he literally ‘walks the talk’ or ‘puts his money where his mouth is’ — promising that if anyone joins Toastmasters for one year and does’t benefit from the experience, he’ll personally refund that members money.
* I meet Harvey Mackay a few years ago. And I asked him about this ‘money-back guarantee’ re: Toastmasters. Well back then, he told me that he’s NEVER had a single person ask for this ‘refund.’
