by Ren La Porte
Do you tend to have great ideas at your workplace? Do you find yourself promoting a thriving operation though your actions? Do you set a positive and productive example to others in the workplace? If so, you may have some hidden leadership qualities! And guess what? You’re in demand!
Rather than shying away from your full potential, why not embrace it? Toastmasters gives you a space to make mistakes, learn from your efforts and to ultimately shine.
‘Leadership and strong management are essential for any organisation that wants to achieve its objectives’
(Siena Heights University, 2022).
SKILL GAPS FOR LEADERSHIP
Great leaders are the backbones of many successful businesses and organisations. They are in demand! An assessment was done on workforce requirements, for the period leading up to 2025 for the Australian Public Services (APS) Workforce. Within this research document, emphasis was placed on strong leadership capabilities to drive performance.
Almost half (46%) of existing employees identified skill gaps for leadership. There are approximately 150,000 people employed by the APS in Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, 2021). In order to mitigate this, the action plan included attracting expertise and talent. Part of the mitigating strategy was:
‘We will ensure that our leadership continues to shape our behaviour, our purpose and our delivery of outcomes, and that the APS is highly regarded for our integrity and citizen-centric focus’
(Commonwealth of Australia, 2021)
SO THEN, WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEADER?
The modern take on leadership according to AI, is that leaders need to have an ability to:
- Communicate effectively
- Demonstrate active listening
- Show empathy
- Demonstrate trust
- Reflect self-awareness
- Promote vision
- Excel at decision-making
- Be a team builder
- Be a relationship builder
- Inspire and motivate others
- Embrace failure
- Have a positive attitude
- Lead by example
- Manage conflict resolution.
This sounds like a lot of skills to master. Fear not, Toastmasters is the perfect place to develop all of these, at a pace suited to your individual taste. First and foremost, Toastmasters focus on what you are already good at. We are a professional, supportive and inclusive environment.
TOASTMASTERS ON YOUR RESUME
As a Toastmaster, you have an advantage when it comes to career placement. A resume that makes mention of your Toastmaster experiences is a sure step to getting noticed in your field; it shows you are committed to life-long learning. It also shows you have experience in leadership and you are invested in your future. A job interview is a much smoother process based on Toastmaster experiences, and you will have many projects to talk about.
IN YOUR OWN TIME, AT YOUR OWN PACE
Toastmasters allows you to grow as a leader. Toastmasters is a global institution that specialises in leadership. It provides the latest course structure relevant to current demographics and growth stage. Courses available to each member can be chosen based on your needs and wants. If there is a particular leadership area you want to focus on, Toastmasters has a range of electives to suit. Electives are available through the digital online course structure, and completion can be done in your own time. The leadership development journey is great value for money and there is no pressure for time.
We understand that life is busy. In fact, at Tropic City Toastmasters (Townsville QLD), we offer hybrid meetings. Meetings are your practice ‘live’ audience. This is also achievable through Zoom. Attending a Zoom meeting allows you to keep growing your skills, even if you are minding children, travelling, or can’t make it to an in-person meeting.
MAKE MISTAKES!
Make mistakes! Yes, that’s part of learning and embraced at our club.
‘If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning’
Quote by Percival Everett, James.
We proudly stand by our club mission – to provide ‘a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills…’
DEMAND RIGHT NOW
While leadership may be something you would like to avoid, chances are, at some point you will be the most knowledgeable person to lead. What then? Take a proactive approach and be ready. You can source leadership areas in demand by typing ‘manager’ into the Australian Government Occupation Shortage List search bar here (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025).
We encourage you to learn about your options and don’t be afraid to trial before you buy. Learning should be fun. If you would like to trial a Toastmaster club in Townsville, they are listed here. Don’t feel pressured to settle. Each club has its own unique culture so feel free to trial several in a quest to pursue your career growth.
REFERENCES
- Commonwealth of Australia (2021). Delivering for Tomorrow: APS Workforce Strategy 2025 [pdf]. Australian Government. https://www.apsc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-03/APS_Workforce_strategy.pdf
- Jobs and Skills Australia (2025, February 19). Occupation Shortage List. Australian Government. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortages-analysis/occupation-shortage-list
- Siena Heights University (2022, December 8). 10 Reasons Leadership is Important in the Workplace. Siena Heights University. https://www.sienaheights.edu/10-reasons-leadership-is-important-in-the-workplace/#:~:text=Leaders%20provide%20direction%20and%20vision,wants%20to%20achieve%20its%20objectives.
Interesting Read – Mentored for Success
