A few years ago, I said yes to becoming an Area Director.
At the time, I only knew a handful of Toastmasters outside my own club. I remember wondering, Who am I to support multiple clubs? What do I really know? Here’s what happened.

When Your World Expands Overnight

My network exploded.
Suddenly, I was surrounded by Toastmasters who didn’t just have years of experience. They had decades. Leaders who had built clubs from scratch. Mentors who had navigated conflict, growth, burnout, and rebuilding. I listened to stories that you simply do not hear when you stay inside one club.

And I grew. Fast. Not just the belly – yes, I love food!

Growth Through Service

Serving as an Area Director and later as a Division Director was one of the most powerful learning journeys I have ever taken. It stretched me in ways I did not expect. I learned how to have real conversations. How to listen, not just wait for my turn to speak. How to guide without controlling. How to support without rescuing.

The Art of Listening

The art of listening changed everything for me.

That skill alone transformed how I show up not just as a leader, but as a parent, a sister, an aunt, a friend, and a colleague. I became more patient. More curious. Less reactive. I learned to ask better questions. I learned to let people find their own solutions.

Leadership Lessons Beyond Leadership

What surprised me most was how many of the lessons I was learning echoed ideas I had previously worked through in (very) expensive therapy. Boundaries. Communication. Empathy. Accountability. Encouragement without enabling.

In many ways, serving as an Area Director and Division Director became a growth experience that went far beyond club visits and reports. It was personal development in real time.

You Don’t Have to Be Ready

You do not step into these roles because you have everything figured out. You step in because you are willing to learn.

Yes, there are challenges. Yes, you will feel stretched. But you will also find something extraordinary: support. Other leaders who want you to succeed. Mentors who pick up the phone. Friends you did not know you needed.

Growth Begins With a Raised Hand

If you are even slightly curious about becoming an Area Director or Division Director, take that seriously.

Growth rarely happens inside our comfort zones. It happens when we raise our hand and say, I’ll try.
You might find that it changes far more than your Toastmasters journey.

Elaine Balante
Admin Manager, District 42 Toastmasters