Martin Luther Kings Leadership Lessons for Toastmasters members

Martin Luther King Jr Day is more than just a day where we enjoy a day off. For many Generation Xers and beyond, we know Martin Luther King Jr as the “I have a dream” guy who delivered his infamous speech in Washington DC. #AST9872

There are several Leadership lessons that we can learn from Dr. King as he left behind a legacy.

The leadership lessons that Dr. King gave to the world are as important to future Toastmasters leaders and leaders, in general, as they were during his life.

Leadership Lesson #1: Have total commitment to your purpose

As a future leader in whatever industry you are in, you have to commit time and effort to your purpose. When I worked for a pizza restaurant many years ago, my boss, the pizza franchisee, would work around the clock to ensure that his store ran like clockwork. He would be at the store first upon opening and then be the last to leave at the end of the night upon closing. His purpose was to make one store a success such that he could buy and position other stores around the city.

His dedication to his business allowed him to grow from 1 store to 6 in a matter of a few years. For that, I have always admired this leadership quality in him.

One must work hard and have total dedication. Dr. King’s commitment to his purpose was to promote civil rights for African-Americans in the 1960’s regardless of the numerous times he was arrested during his career in the civil rights movement.

Leadership Lesson #2: Deviating from the Norm is Necessary for Change

Even though we have a special day in honor of Dr. King, he was not a very celebrated man by everybody during his life. MLK was a man who sought out reform for his fellow African-Americans. He never liked the existing state of affairs for people of color. He felt that there should be a new standard that should be the norm.

For example, Dr. King helped to promote what was known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott after an African-American woman refused to give up her seat to a white passenger in the 1950’s. Because of this boycott, the end result was that the entire public transit system in Montgomery, Alabama became racially integrated following years of segregation.

Change is something that you need to do if you want to create a new standard for your life. I’m not saying that you should cause a scene at any bus station or public transit system. If you’re someone who seeks to create something better for your life such as a job promotion which requires the leadership skills you don’t have, then Toastmasters can help you make that change to accomplish your goal in acquiring leadership skills.

Don’t let it be the norm where you are simply an employee in your organization, and a leadership position upon promotion is miles away. At Toastmasters, you will learn some life-long leadership skills from us. We will help you step out of your comfort zone.

Leadership Lesson #3: Visualize your dream, communicate it, and do it.

When Dr. King delivered his speech in Washington DC to an audience of 250,000 people in 1963, he had a dream and wanted his dream to be public. By making his dream public, he publicly spoke about it through COMMUNICATION. How effective is your goal to land that job interview for a dream job you’ve always wanted if you don’t communicate it?

Do you have a vision for your company? If you DO have a vision, are you communicating your company’s to-do list to your employees in order to back up that vision?

Finally, if you do communicate with your staff, employees, or downline distributors (if you’re in network marketing), do you take action? Are they taking action?

If your goal is to be the next VP of Public Relations of Addison Singles Toastmasters in July 2017, will YOU be taking action to post regularly in our blog or social media account to help promote our club? If you work in small business like a personal injury law practice, will you take action to meet doctors in order to solicit their patients as clients for your practice?

If you’re a habitual procrastinator in college, will you take action to pop open that textbook at 6 o’clock at night like you planned on doing instead of playing video games?

These leadership qualities are what made Dr. King famous among other leaders after his death. When you acquire leadership qualities, you and those around will have a new found respect for you. As a Toastmasters member, you will learn such qualities that will stick with you for years to come. (: (:

Addison Singles Toastmasters meets every Wednesday night at la Madeleine Country French Cafe​ at Prestonwood Place shopping plaza, 5290 Belt Line Rd Ste 112; Dallas, TX 75254-7512. The restaurant is at the SE corner of Montfort Dr and Belt Line Rd.

Please call or text me at 513-291-3795 to inform me that you are coming so that I can include you in the guest list.