One Size Does Not Fit All

All Toastmasters Clubs Are unique. I've come to realize that each club has its own personality.

One of the great joys of becoming a Toastmaster District Officer is getting to visit the various clubs we are assigned to oversee. During the 2008-2009 year I served as Division G Governor in District 42. The division is a large one geographically, located in Southern Alberta, Canada, with clubs located in a large metropolitan center (Calgary), and clubs located in rural farming communities (Pincher Creek, Brooks).

During the course of the year I visited clubs throughout the division and found each one unique. As Toastmasters we share a common desire to become better communicators and leaders. My visits revealed that each club put its own stamp on how its members achieved their goals.

Urban clubs were more fast paced and time sensitive, a reflection of the hectic pace of life in the big city. Rural clubs were more laid back and social, with members often getting together for coffee after a meeting to catch up with each other. There are thriving clubs, and struggling clubs in each of these settings led by dedicated people who share a common passion, and a common bond.

As an District leader charged with the task of revitalizing a struggling club, one of the temptations we succumb to is to treat each club the same, by completely ignoring the uniqueness the is the very identity of the club. We call this the "cookie cutter" approach, or the one size fits all approach. District leaders often attempt to fix struggling clubs with a predetermined set of solutions that are based on personal experience, or garnered from others, who are all too willing to share their perfect solution, for a particular club despite the lack of any specific knowledge of a club's needs

We see what works in club X and we instinctively try to implement it in club Y. In our exuberance to help, we can completely miss what makes that club tick.

As leaders our goal in revitalizing a struggling club is to work with the club's leaders and its members to develop strategies that will work for them. Where we start? How can we determine those special qualities that define the club? We need to ask the right questions. Questions that provide us with a picture of the club's identity.

Here are some questions to ask that will help us understand a club's personality.

• How long has the club been in existence?
  
• Who are the long time members?
  
• What keeps long time members coming back?
  
• Who are the leaders in the club?
  
• Who are the newest members? How long have they been members?
• Do club members have goals?
  
• How does the club conduct their meetings? - What are their strengths? What might be changed?

By asking a few well thought out questions and taking the time to really understand the answers, while observing the club's activities, you can gain a true picture of any club. Once you have the snapshot, you can work with their leaders to develop a plan of action specifically designed to revitalize the club.

Any chance of success depends on a buy-in from the club's members. Without that buy-in you have zero chance of success.

Remember, one size does not fit all. Success in club revitalization depends on knowing the club and tailoring your efforts to fit it's personality.