Q & A
Q & A
Apr 10, 2026
By Linda Patten
For years, I’ve spoken about leadership, global conferences, and experiences that have taken me across the world—from Europe to Asia to Latin America and throughout the United States.
But I realized something important was missing: the audience never got to ask their own questions.
So I changed the format.
Instead of a prepared speech, I opened the floor. No script—just honest questions and real conversation.
What followed was unexpected.
People asked about my transition from the military to civilian life, how I built a career in event planning, and what it’s really like working across different cultures. The questions were thoughtful, direct, and deeply personal.
Then came the hardest one:
“If you had to choose just one skill that shaped your success… what would it be?”
After a lifetime of experience, the answer came down to this: leading through influence, not authority.
That shift—from command to connection—changed everything about how I lead, work, and communicate.
But beyond the answers, the biggest lesson was the format itself.
When you stop speaking and start listening, the conversation changes. People don’t just hear your story—they help shape it.
And in that space, something powerful happens: real understanding.
This wasn’t just a speech.
It was a reminder that the best leadership moments often begin with a question.
Linda Patten, a highly sought after Leadership Trainer and Mentor, joined Toastmasters in 2019. She has earned her DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster Award) twice. She has been selected and elected to many leadership roles at all District levels and was Toastmaster of the Year in 2021. As Club Growth Director, she has facilitated the chartering of four new club, reinstating/transferring two others. Do you think she knows training and leadership?
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