By TM Rashika Suneja
Have you ever wondered how much of your life is shaped by a story you didn’t even write? What if the biggest thing holding you back... is just a belief you never questioned? Who would you be if you stopped believing the story that limits you?
For years, I got one big thing totally wrong — Leadership.
Not just wrong... I totally misjudged it. I thought leaders were just bossy people who loved to talk and hated listening. In my head, leaders were: Loud, Unkind, Impatient, Arrogant, Unfriendly people.
And my favorite myth was ‘To be a leader, you must talk more than a news anchor’. I’m the kind of person who gets tired just by talking. I told myself—“Leadership is not for me.” In fact, I wore it like a badge of honour. While others chased leadership roles, I was busy celebrating my “non-leader” status.
I joined Toastmasters on 18th February 2023. By 25th March, I was already on stage as a Contest Chair—without even realising it was a leadership role!
By July, I became my club’s Vice President Education (VPED). I read the Club Leadership Handbook, understood the responsibilities, and started working... still not realising I was actually leading. The term brought many challenges. Sometimes I wanted to hide. Sometimes I took U-turns. But I kept going. I kept learning.
And slowly... I grew. Grew into something I never thought I could be—a leader.
I went on to serve one year as VP Education and another as Club President. Both roles reshaped not just my leadership style, but my communication skills, team management ability, and personal growth.
As VP Education, I had to make quick, fair decisions—sometimes on speech slots, sometimes on resolving last-minute role changes. I learned that decision making is not about making everyone happy—it’s about doing what’s best for the club, while still being kind.
Conflict Resolution Skills In any team, differences happen. Some members were inactive, some disagreed with meeting plans. I learned to listen first, address concerns calmly, and focus on solutions rather than blame.
Mentoring Both as VPED and President, mentoring became part of my daily work—guiding new members, pairing them with mentors, and helping them prepare for roles and speeches. I discovered that mentoring is leadership at its most personal—it’s about lifting someone else while walking beside them.
Time Management From scheduling speeches to planning agendas, every week was a test of time management. Toastmasters taught me that good time management is not just about deadlines—it’s about balancing priorities without losing focus on quality.
Leading by Example When members see you preparing well, showing up on time, and staying committed — they follow. Leadership in Toastmasters is more about showing than telling.