District 7080 Kathi Dick – DG

Workshop Outline What is a Mentor? Why Mentor? What Might a Mentor Look Like? When to Mentor? Responsibilities of the Mentor Actions of a Mentor Training the Mentor Benefits of Being a Mentor

What is a Mentor?  A mentor is a person or friend who guides a less experienced person by building trust and modeling positive behaviours. An effective mentor understands that his or her role is to be dependable, engaged, authentic and tuned into the needs of the mentee.  In Rotary, mentoring is a process by which an experienced Rotarian provides ongoing support and special fellowship to a new member and can be a very effective way to help a new member become acclimated to his or her club.  A mentor and a sponsor are not necessarily the same thing.

WHY MENTOR? More than one in four new Rotarians, with less than two years service in Rotary, leave us. Mentoring new members into clubs might help to prevent this large loss. One-on-one connection with a mentor can provide guidance and assurance to a new member who might otherwise feel overwhelmed or isolated.

WHAT MIGHT A MENTOR LOOK LIKE?  A mentor should be a volunteer. It is an important and challenging role. No one should be forced into it. Care should be taken to match the Mentor with the Mentee.  A mentor should be a good listener and must be approachable. Mentee must be able to approach the mentor at any time, not only at a club meeting.  A mentor must be ready to respond to the need of the mentee.  A mentor must be empathetic to the new mentee.  A mentor can be a long serving member or a relatively newer member who will have fresh memories of the challenges they faced when they first joined.  The Mentor should also:  Share common interests with the Mentee.  Have experience with Rotary.  Have knowledge of Rotary, not only within the club.  Be passionate about Rotary.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MENTOR  Help your new Rotarian / mentee integrate into the club.  Introduce your mentee to “Rotary ways”…the people and the things they do.  Be available to your Mentee. Be there.  Meet, support, inspire, inform and guide your Mentee.  Above all, educate, do not train your Mentee.  Plan a program with your Mentee. Reflect, review and adjust as necessary.  Maintain confidentiality.

ACTIONS OF A MENTOR  Being available to answer questions and provide guidance.  Ensuring the new member understands club policy and procedures, including rules and expectations.  Explaining the mandate and organization of club committees.  Acting as an informal host at club events by introducing the new member to other club members.  Offering to accompany the new member on a makeup.  Providing additional reading or viewing materials to help expand the new member’s knowledge of your club and Rotary International.  Ensuring the new member has access to the club website and Facebook page.  Making sure the new member is aware of and participates in the New Member Orientation process or attends the New Member Orientation session and accompany them to it.

ACTIONS OF A MENTOR  Monitoring the new member’s attendance, comfort level and involvement in the club through periodic personal meetings.  Assisting the new member with his or her “Who Am I” or Classification presentation.  Conducting an inventory of interest to determine the topics that interest the new member, and using this information to suggest specific committees to join or projects in which to get involved.  Informing the new member about special club meetings and events.  Making sure the new member is aware of district events such as the District Conference or Club Leadership Training and offering to accompany the mentee to them.  Informing the new member about additional learning opportunities such as Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI).  Offering continuous support. A Key Element to success!

MENTORING ESSENTIALS  Establish rapport  Build trust  Ask questions  Listen  Keep confidences  Be there  Explore issues  Share information  Help to set goals and make a plan for action  Reflect on the outcomes  Adjust the plan or the goal  Continue the cycle…reflect, plan, do.

ABOVE ALL ELSE... Listen to what the new member has to say. Adjust your mentoring to meet the needs of the new member. Offer an opportunity for the new member to see him or herself as a vital, active, engaged member of the club.

WHEN TO MENTOR?

4 STAGES OF MENTOR SHIP  Stage 1. Set up the Relationship  Stage 2. Develop the Relationship  Stage 3. Review Success  Stage 4. End the Formal Relationship and Celebrate

TRAINING THE MENTOR  Training should be done!  Can be done by experienced Mentor, club director or chair of the membership committee.  Review responsibilities and actions of the Mentor.  Establish a time line.  Respond to questions from the Mentor to be.

BENEFITS OF MENTORING FOR THE MENTOR:  Re-engages/energies/educates the existing member. The things you know don’t seem fascinating or impressive to you because you already know them.  Helps another member. Remember, you can change the world for someone.  Allows the Mentor to make a new friend!

A THOUGHT...  “I never teach my pupils: I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” Albert Einstein.