by Clark Pfarner
Anyone who has ever run a Toastmasters speech contest knows the truth: the work will get done – but how much of it you personally carry is entirely up to you. After serving as both an Area Director and Division Director, I learned this lesson the hard way…and then the right way.
In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg introduces the concept of a keystone habit – a small, foundational behavior that sets off a chain reaction of positive outcomes. Fix one key thing, and suddenly everything around it becomes easier. Running a contest has its own version of that concept: keystone roles.
During my year as Area Director, I didn’t prioritize this. I approached contest planning with the mindset of “I have plenty of time”. While the contest itself was successful, I carried much of the burden – from securing functionaries to last minute issues. By the end, I felt like I had run a marathon with a loaded backpack. The work got done, but it was far harder than it needed to be.
When I became Division Director, I made one decision that changed everything: I secured my Contest Chair and Contest Toastmaster early; weeks earlier than I thought I needed to. That single shift became my keystone habit.
Suddenly, I wasn’t planning alone. Responsibilities were shared. Ideas were better. Communication flowed faster. When challenges came up – as they will – we handled them instead of me handling them. The overall quality of the contest reflected that teamwork.
If you’re preparing for contest season whether at the club, area, or division level, identify your keystone roles now. A Contest Chair, a Hospitality Lead – whatever positions create the biggest leverage for you. Fill them early. Let those partners ripple outward and make every subsequent step smoother.
The contest will still be work, but it doesn’t have to be a burden. Secure your keystone roles, and you’ll feel the difference immediately – just like I did from one year to the next.
