Regular Meeting 141, Mar. 17, 2026 (Hybrid)

Don’t Blame the People. Improve the System.

Today, I delivered a presentation from the Leadership Excellence Series titled “The Leader as a Coach.”　In my talk, I shared a reflection from my daily work in warehouse operations.

In any team, mistakes happen. And it’s easy to ask:

“Who made the mistake?”

But what really matters is not who, but why.

Instead of blaming people, we should focus on improving the system so that mistakes are less likely to happen.

Through this experience, I realized an important lesson:

Leadership is not just about giving instructions or making decisions.

It is about supporting people so they can succeed.

A leader shows the direction. A coach helps people find the way.

And sometimes, the best leaders are the ones who step back, listen, and guide others to find their own answers. That is when leadership becomes truly impactful.

In Toastmasters, reflecting on real-life experiences and turning them into speeches is a great opportunity to better understand yourself.

It allows us to step back, look at our actions, and discover how we can grow as leaders and individuals.

If you have ever wanted to improve your communication, reflect on your experiences, or challenge yourself in a supportive environment, Toastmasters is a great place to start.

Maho Hummel President 2025-2026