Interview with Joyce Fuestel

What does it mean to be a leader?

Someone for whom the good of the group is their overriding concern. Sometimes as a leader you have difficult people in the group and you need to know how to handle that diplomatically and allow others to be a part of the group and have a role. That can be difficult. The leader has to be lead by principle and not be caught up by drama or personality. 

They also need to be influential. They need to help others come onboard with the vision -- get people excited to join in on a shared mission. 

Part of being a leader is mentoring the next generation of leaders. No matter what environment you’re in you need to help others step into their own power and never get caught up in being the face of everything. They need to give someone else the floor -- know when it’s time to walk away and allow others to lead.

Do you feel you’re a leader? If so, what makes you a leader?

Yes I am a leader. I’m the oldest of 4 and that helped me feel like a leader early on. 

I feel that I am a visionary. I can see things that can happen before they happen. I’m inspiring and I help others grasp ideas. 

I’m a better leader than a manager because managers need to hold people accountable, which is sometimes a challenge for me. I’m a good mentor and I help others find their way. I’m a risk-taker and I’m willing to take a chance on something. 

I have a compulsive desire to learn other people’s life stories. I also love connecting others and helping find great matches. 

Who is a leader you truly respect and what makes them stand out?

My Minister is remarkable. She is hardworking, believes in our church, but still remembers to take time for herself. She is inspiring. She appreciates the people who help our church run. She has a huge heart. 

I’ve seen her make really tough decisions because she knew they were the right thing to do. That gives me a lot of respect for her. 

Tell a story of a time that you took the lead. What motivated you to lead?

In Toastmasters there are area governors, and division governors. One year when I was an area governor, I teamed up with my divisional governor to help with his responsibilities. By taking the initiative to partner with my division governor, we were both awarded "governor of the year" for our respective roles. My initiative helped elevate us both. 

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