Mentoring By Donald W Larson AC Bronze CL

Mentoring By Donald W. Larson AC Bronze, CL March 21, 2007 The Successful Club Series

Sophocles Quote “The ideal condition would be, I admit, that men [and women] should be right by instinct. But since we are all likely to go astray, the reasonable thing is to learn from those who can teach. ” Antigone Greek Tragedy by Sophocles 495 BC - 406 BC

Consider Your Life Experience • Was there someone who helped you get started at work? • Was there a teacher who had a positive impact on your life? • Probably two or three people had an impact on your life

Mentor Definition A mentor serves as a role model, coach, and confidante, offering knowledge, insight, perspective, or wisdom useful to the mentee.

Mentor’s Primary Directive First, Do No Harm!

Benefits for New Members, Part 1 • Learn the program - Become familiar with manual - Reduce difficulty of new experiences • Learn Club standards and customs

Benefits for New Members, Part 2 • Develop confidence - From knowledge • Participate more - Through enjoyment • Quickly learn speaking skills - Coached, enabling faster learning

A Mentoring Program Helps Experienced Members • Further refine skills - Lubricate rusty skills • Learn new skills - Learn from other advanced members, or officers who have particular skills

Benefits for Mentors… • Learn from mentees • Remain productive • Do something for others • Receive recognition

Benefits for Clubs with mentor programs… • • • Have more members - Reduced turnover - Develop friendships Have more satisfied members Retain more members - Through fulfillment

Qualities of Mentors, Part 1 A good mentor is… • Available • Patient - Provide what it takes • Sensitive - Keep confidences

Qualities of Mentors, Part 2 Respectful - Differences • Flexible - Not always 100% agreement • Supportive of Club - Show pride in club • Knowledgeable •

Qualities of Mentors, Part 3 • Confident • Good listener • Concerned about others - Care about people - Desire to truly help

Initially Mentors Should, Part 1 • Sit with new members - Cover Mentor Guidelines • Orient them to Club customs and procedures - Explain functions and assignment process

Initially Mentors Should, Part 2 • Help with “Ice Breaker” speech - Make new member comfortable

Next, Mentors Should, Part 1 By the next meeting, a mentor should: • Make sure members aware of resources - Explain roles of officers • Provide positive feedback - Through compliments

Next, Mentors Should, Part 2 By the next meeting, a mentor should: • Explain responsibilities - Review “A Toastmasters Promise” • Help with speeches and assignments - Provide personal evaluations - Explain function roles

Later, Mentors Should, Part 1 Eventually, mentors should also do the following: • Tell how you’ve benefited - Share your goals and lessons • Invite them to other events - Speech Marathons

Later, Mentors Should, Part 2 Eventually, mentors should also do the following: • Acknowledge their progress • Explain officers’ duties - Shadow Program • Explain speech contests • Describe the TI organization

Continuous Improvement • Remember that new members tend to be shy • Provide more than one way to stay in touch with them • New members may provide new perspectives to share with Club Officers

Qualities of Mentees, Part 1 Eager to learn - Take on new challenges • Receptive - Open to feedback - Opportunity to improve •

Qualities of Mentees, Part 2 • Open to new ideas - View things from other perspectives • Loyal - Keep confidences and trust • Grateful - Through appreciation

A Finite Relationship • A mentor relationship does not last forever: - The purpose is to teach a mentee to think independently and successfully • Former mentees acquire the skills and knowledge to become mentors themselves

To Serve And Be Served • Right now, each one of you look around the room. • Whom can you help as a mentor? • Who may be able to help you learn new speaking and leadership skills? • Talk to the VP of Education