Reflecting on a Path

On January 31st, 2020 Lauralee Norris completed Level Five of Innovative Planning Path, one of the Paths offered in the Toastmasters Education Program Pathways. Lauralee is the only current member of Yaquina Toastmasters who has completed a full Path on Pathways.
Norris chose Innovative Planning because she wanted the challenge of developing a long term project, and seeing it through from conception to celebration. For her Path, Norris chose to explore topics that she was not familiar with, such as creating a podcast and presenting an hour long presentation at Oregon Coast Community College.
One of the projects required to complete the Innovative Planning Path is to complete a High Performance Leadership Project, which would be the second High Performance Leadership Project Norris has completed with Toastmasters. The first project focused on a public relations campaign to bring awareness to Yaquina Toastmasters. For Innovative Planning, Norris chose to use her position as a Pathways Guide to help spread information about the Pathways program, and make the program easier to understand for everyone. To do this, Norris created step-by-step guides and recorded videos to help other Toastmasters navigate the new education program. 
Norris said that "for the new Pathways program, I wanted to lead by example and show that this new education system is meaningful for everyone to try." This is why she created over 70 blog posts and videos to help Toastmasters with this program.
When reflecting on her journey on Pathways, Norris felt like it has given her a variety of opportunities to experiment with new ways of public speaking, like her podcast project and trying out new public relations strategies. While there have been both ups and downs, Norris has enjoyed being able to use her skills as a Pathways Guide to become a mentor through her videos and blog posts for Toastmasters near and far. 
Norris said that "throughout this journey to one completed Path on Pathways, I have become a mentor my fellow club members, grow as a speaker and become a more organized leader."

District 7 Pathways Introduction

Five Levels of Leadership Development

Mastering Fundamentals

• Ice Breaker
• Evaluation and Feedback
• Researching and Presenting

Learning Your Style

• Managing Time
• Understanding Your Leadership Style
• Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring

Increasing Knowledge

• Planning and Implementing

Building Skills

• Leading Your Team

Demonstrating Expertise

• Manage Successful Events
• Reflect on Your Path

Five Levels of Innovative Planning

Mastering Fundamentals

• Ice Breaker
• Evaluation and Feedback
• Researching and Presenting

Learning Your Style

• Understanding Your Leadership Style
• Connect With Your Audience
• Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring

Increasing Knowledge

• Present a Proposal

Building Skills

• Manage Projects Successfully

Demonstrating Expertise

• High Performance Leadership
• Reflect on Your Path

Five Levels of Engaging Humor

Mastering Fundamentals

• Ice Breaker
• Evaluation and Feedback
• Researching and Presenting

Learning Your Style

• Know Your Sense of Humor
• Connect with Your Audience
• Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring

Increasing Knowledge

• Engage Your Audience With Humor

Building Skills

• The Power of Humor in an Impromptu Speech

Demonstrating Expertise

• Deliver Your Message With Humor
• Reflect on Your Path

What does it mean to be someone's mentor?

When you think mentor, what is the first thing that comes to mind? A person? A teacher? A friend? A guide? According to the Merriam- Webster Dictionary the term mentor means a trusted counselor or guide. The term 'mentor' can be applied to many different people in many different situations. Mentor's can be found at work, at school, in the community or in a friend group. 

Think of the mentors you have worked with in your life. Was there someone who helped you get started in your career, offering advice and guidance, showing you how things worked and how to get things done? Consider your education. Was there a teacher who took a special interest in you and who had an especially positive influence on your life? We all can probably name two people who have had a profound positive effect on our lives. 

What does a mentor actually do?
A mentor:
Takes a personal interest in and helps an inexperienced person (mentee) 
Serves as a role model, coach, and confidante 
Offers knowledge, insight, perspective, and wisdom useful to the mentee 
Helps someone become successful and learns new skills themselves

Most new members join a Toastmasters club because they have the desire to work on their  speaking and/or leadership. They believe that by improving their speaking and/or leadership skills will help them advance in their career or offer them greater personal satisfaction. Think of when you joined a new organization. Did you feel lost? Was there someone there to guide you and help you learn the workings of that organization? 

Being a mentor can be a wonderful experience and rewarding. As a mentor, you can share what you learned in Toastmasters and help a newer member to start working on and achieving their goals. 

Is your New Year's resolution to give back to your community? Maybe this year your resolution can be to help other members meet their goals by becoming a Toastmaster's mentor. 

Triple A Award- District Seven