District 80 Program Quality

Each of the ten projects in the Competent Leadership (CL) manual focuses on a different leadership skill, providing you background information and an assignment that requires your serving in one or more specified meeting or club roles in which you can practice aspects of that skill. Roles can include Evaluator, Timer, Toastmaster, Ah-Counter and General Evaluator. In most projects you can choose which roles to serve in.

You can complete the manual at your own own pace and work on it at the same time as working on the Competent Communication orAdvanced Communication manuals.

As an essential part of the Toastmasters program, another Toastmaster will provide you written and/or verbal feedback on each leadership project completed. The evaluator provides a personal opinion of your leadership role, pointing out strengths and offering suggestions for improvement. Each club should to how to handle CL manual evaluations.

Possible options are to

Provide verbal evaluations for leadership projects during meetings
Provide verbal evaluations privately outside of the club meeting
Provide only written evaluations for leadership projects
Provide verbal evaluations during meetings for both speech and leadership projects, but allow less time for each evaluation.

The chart below provides information about the projects in the Competent Leadership manual.

1. Listening

Listening is an important leadership skill. Good listening helps you to identify and clarify issues, make decisions, resolve conflict and be creative. Listening skills also play a major role in team-building. You can learn to be a leader by following a few simple suggestions.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to listen � Identify and apply effective listening skills
Requirement	Apply in any 3 of the following roles (each at a different meeting) � Speech Evaluator � Table Topic Speaker � Ah-Counter � Grammarian

2. Critical Thinking

A leader gathers information, then analyzes, interprets and understands it before acting. Critical thinkers question what they read and hear, then determine the quality of a piece of information and use logical reasoning to reach conclusions. Critical thinkers make better decisions. You can learn to think more critically by following a few suggestions.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to think critically � Identify and apply successful critical thinking practices
Requirement	Apply in any 2 of the following roles (each at a different meeting) � Speech Evaluator � Grammarian � General Evaluator

3. Giving Feedback

Team members need to know that they are doing well, what they are not doing well and how they can improve. Giving performance feedback is a necessary leadership function. When done properly, feedback can relieve stress, improve interpersonal relationships and promote trust and respect for leaders and team members.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to give feedback � Identify and apply successful practices for giving feedback
Requirement	Apply in all 3 of the following roles (each at a different meeting) � Speech Evaluator � Grammarian � General Evaluator

4. Time Management

Time management helps leaders make the most of the time available to them. You can budget your time and accomplish projects and tasks efficiently by identifying long-term and short-term goals, make a daily to-do list, prioritize the list, make a schedule, delegate when possible, leave time for unexpected tasks, and manage interruptions.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to manage time � Identify and apply successful time management practices
Requirement	Timer AND any 1 of the following roles (each at a different meeting) � Toastmaster � Speaker � Grammarian � Table Topics Master

5. Planning and Implementation

A plan provides direction for the leader and the team. The planning process involves setting goals and objectives and preparing plans and schedules to accomplish them. The process forces leaders to look beyond their everyday activities and think about what they want to happen in the future. Involving team members in the process will encourage their commitment.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to plan and implement � Identify and apply successful planning and implementation practices
Requirement	Apply in any 3 of the following roles (each at a different meeting) � Speaker � General Evaluator � Toastmaster � Table Topics Master

6. Organizing and Delegating

Leaders must ensure the team is organized and capable of accomplishing goals and objectives, and they must provide the structure in which the team will operate. Delegation also plays a major role. A leaders should accomplish functions that only he or she has the knowledge and authority to do and delegate all other tasks to team members.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to organize and plan � Identify the steps in the organizing and delegating process � Identify and apply successful organization and delegation practices
Requirement	Perform any 1 of the following tasks � Help Organize Speech Contest � Help Organize Club Special Event � Help Club Membership Campaign or Contest � Help Organize Club Public Relations Campaign � Help with Club Newsletter � Assist Club Webmaster

7. Facilitation

A facilitator establishes the structure of the team needs to function effectively, ensures the structure is working and removes obstacles that may be impeding progress. A facilitator also resolves conflicts which are inevitable any time two or more people are required to work together. Good facilitation skills can help the group reach a resolution.
Objectives	� Determine your current facilitation abilities � Identify your ability to facilite � Identify and apply facilitation skills
Requirement	Apply in any 2 of the following roles or tasks (each at a different meeting) � Toastmaster � General Evaluator � Table Topics Master � Befriend Guest

8. Motivation

A motivated team can overcome obstacles of all types to achieve its goals. A leader creates and maintains an environment where team members are likely to become motivated. Leaders find out what motivates team members, then develops reward systems that match what team members value. They also look for ways to reward team members for doing the right things.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to motivate � Identify and apply leadership practices that effectively motivate people
Requirement	Roles: � Toastmaster � Evaluator � General Evaluator � Chair of Membership Campaign � Chair of Public Relations Campaign

9. Mentoring

A mentor recognizes an individual who has less experience and cultivates that person's potential and talents and helps him or her succeed. Leaders are also mentors. You can be a mentor by offering someone opportunities for skill development, helping the person recognize areas needing work, providing helpful advice, being a role model, and encouraging the person to think for himself or herself.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to mentor � Identify and apply effective mentoring skills
Requirement	Apply in 1 of the following tasks � Mentor a New Member with the First Three Projects in the CC Manual � Mentor an Existing Member with Their Next THree Speaking and/or Leadership Pojects � Serve on the Guidance Committee of a High Performance Leadership Project

10. Team Building

Teams offer great benefits. Team members have a variety of knowledge and skills, which results in more creativity and greater productivity. When a good team is in place, a leader has more time to devote to leadership issues. Team members must be carefully chosen and trained and encouraged to openly discuss issues with you and among themselves.
Objectives	� Evaluate your ability to build teams � Identify and apply successful team-building practices
Requirement	Apply in BOTH of the following roles OR in any 1 task Roles � Toastmaster � General Evaluator Tasks � Chair a Club Membership Campaign � Chair a Club Public Relations Campaign � Chair a Club Speech Contest � Chair a Club Special Event � Serve as Club Newsletter Editor or Webmaster

Competent Leadership Manual