I’ve never been a Division Governor. It won’t stop me from giving my advice on being one, though. I was an Area Gov., so I had a Div Gov for a boss, and I’ve been involved around the District level stuff for years. And I think about this stuff too much.

 

For non-TM geeks, an Area contains about 4-6 clubs, and a District contains 4-6 Areas. So a Division Governor may have 25-35 clubs he’s responsible for helping and 300-500 members, which is a big responsibility. A District Governor is the next step up from that, having multiple Divisions and thousands of TM’s.

 

I’m going to focus below on handling your Division and especially the Area Governors. I’m not competent to tell you how to handle the relationship between you and your Division Governor and other big-wigs in the District. The mail between District and Division Governors is a mix of boring administrivia and really nasty personnel issues, neither one of which gets aired in public for curious bloggers.

 

Recruit All Stars

Too late for this coming TM year, but if you know in advance you’ll be a Division Governor then you should actively try to recruit an all-star team of Area Governors. You’re not at the mercy of the District Governor to fill in your subordinates. If you know and like people you think would be good Area Governors and especially if they like you and are enthused by you, do a sales job and recruit them.

 

An Area Governor does not have to be a member of any club in the Area he is helping. If you know two superstars from the same club and they’re both eager to start the road of being a Toastmaster big-shot, you can work it out where you can have both of them on your team.

 

Love Your Area Gov’s

You may know your Area Gov’s already or you maybe meeting them for the first time at District Officer Training. You need to begin your charm offensive on them ASAP; as soon as you know they’ll be on the team with you.

 

As Div Gov you’re at so high a level - 300-500 Toastmasters - that everything has the tendency to turn into numbers. The Area Governors are going to be your first line in handling the giant mess you’re stepping into. Keep the motivated! Make it clear you’re here to help them, not the other way around. If your Area Govs hate you, you’ll have a long year.

 

You’re probably a Bigger Toastmaster Geek than Your Area Gov’s

I’ve seen more than one Division Governor come up with some really interesting, out of the box idea that would require hours and hours of work from their Area Governors. You, the Div Gov, assume that the Area Gov is into Toastmasters and will automatically be game for taking on more responsibilities.

 

Wrong.

 

You need to be extremely sensitive to your Area Gov’s time commitment and stress level. There’s a few things Area Gov’s must do, which will be a future post. Focus them on that.

 

Between this and loving your Area Gov’s, your initial meeting with those you don’t know should be %100 schmooze fest. Make them like you, show they can trust you, and skip the “My uber-vision for the Division to be the best ever in TM history” stuff.

 

Know Your Area Gov’s Personalities

There are three types of Area Gov’s. I’ve heard this from a former Div Gov and it’s been spot on in my experience.

 

Type #1 - Gets things done, wants to do it alone.

 

This is the Area Governor that wants the District and especially his boss to leave him the hell alone. The only times he looks outside the Area are when he has to; judges for Area Contests and training. The Division Governor calling him up with TM Geek activities where he and the various Area Gov’s get together is not likely to be greeted favorably. This was the type of Area Gov I was.

 

Type #2 - Gets things done, needs help or just wants to feel connected to their boss.

 

Some Area Governors need hand holding. The Area Governor is more of remote leadership and is different than being a club president. Obviously respond quickly to their mails and boost their confidence as needed. But at the same time you should be proactively reaching out to ones like this, too. They may be able to handle all the Area stuff just fine, but want to feel plugged into the bigger picture District stuff, too.

 

Type #3 - Doesn’t get things done, doesn’t care.

 

Ugh. Dealing with the underperformer who doesn’t care is way outside the scope of this blog. Just realize you’re effectively the Area Governor for that Area until you can get help.

 

It’s OK for your Gov’s to be Type 1 or 2. You need to handle them differently. Don’t bother #1 with anything unless it really matters and make it clear to them why it’s important. They’re getting things done and making your life easier. Don’t take it personally if they’re not interested in random stuff you throw out. It’s not you; they’re so focused on their clubs and members, which they should be, and don’t care about the TM fluff.

 

It took my Division Governor a while to figure out that I was solidly in the #1 camp. He’s more a big-vision, let’s come together guy. But once he figured out my personality and that I was getting things done, he left me alone.

 

For a #2, do the opposite. Invent reasons to shoot them little “How are things” or “I heard this club in your Area was doing really great” type of mails. Even if you haven’t heard anything from the overwhelmed Area Governor, it doesn’t mean that all is well. Little motivational boost stuff like this goes a long way.

 

Don’t Burn Out

Another subject way too big for little old me, but you have to say No to stupid stuff or you’ll go crazy.

 

Never Too Important

In a class at Microsoft I went to for engineering excellence and how to become a senior engineering leader, one of the key tenants was that you’re never too good to do anything. Some engineers as they get promoted get kind of snotty; they refuse work if they think it’s beneath them. The promotions for people like this end. Even with 500+ TM’s to take care of, even if mostly you’re staring at Excel sheets, you’re never too important to pitch in.

 

Fortunately I’ve never once seen a Division Governor who needed to be told this from me or anyone else.