Fiona Biedermann, Business Change Leadership Coach and District Membership Chair D9510, acted positively by developing “Steps for Success”

Article by PDG David Egan Assistant Rotary Coordinator 

Motivated by the fact her District had lost six club presidents in one year due to unresolved conflict, Fiona Biedermann, Business Change Leadership Coach and District Membership Chair D9510, acted positively by developing “Steps for Success” to support leaders deal with the change challenge.

Fiona was recently interviewed by Membership Voice’s Kero O’Shea on the topic when she shared her extensive vocational experience and wisdom on leadership and change.

Fiona says all club environments are different and there is no one answer that’s right or wrong. Then she goes on to provide some very practical advice to assist budding leaders to increase their chances of success.

Fiona is a great presenter who laces her practical advice with meaningful examples that bring her key messages alive. In the presentation she explains how Communication, Collaboration and Commitment are foundational elements of leadership capability, without which leaders will struggle, and then she goes on to provide some very useful and practical tips under four dimensions of Best Practice – Environment, Structure, Implementation and People.

Under Environment she offers advice on how to address the negative aspects of culture and thenshe provides tips on how leaders can use Structure to advantage. Under the heading of Implementation, Fiona shows how small day to day leadership actions can make a huge difference in achieving positive outcomes. Finally, under the heading of People, she explains how listening and heart and soul issues can be used to make or break success and this includes crucial engagement tactics.

Recognising leadership of volunteers is an art, Fiona makes a key point, “people go where they are needed, but they stay where they are appreciated”.

It is in the question and answer session at the end of the presentation that Fiona excels further sharing her experience in leading change relating the challenges facing Rotary. To achieve this interviewer Kero O’Shea asks her some probing questions such as:

· How important is the continuity of leadership one year to the next in Rotary?

· How important is a “glass half full” approach when dealing with change?

· What role should leaders take in the process of adapting to new ways of doing things?

· How can “baggage” from the past and even history derail change?

· How has COVID and technology changed leadership?

· How can people use the “Steps for Success” to help overcome unresolved conflict?

· How is improved leadership likely to impact on diversity, equity and inclusion?

· Change starts with the first step which is often the hardest... how can that be overcome?

· What should leaders do when planning a change program involving older members?

Viewing of this invaluable video is strongly recommended Here's the recording.

Fiona can be contacted on email at membership@rotary9510.org