Union Mentoring Program 1

2 Today’s Agenda 9:30 to 11:30 Opening Comments and Introductions What does it mean to be a Union Leader? Mentoring Program Overview + Q&A Mentoring Relationships 11:30 to 12:30 Mentor Segment (Mentees do other activity) 12:30 to 2:00 Lunch with Mentors and Mentees 2:00 to 3:00 Initial Session and Logistics Planning Debrief and Additional Program Q&A 3:00 to 3:30 Wrap Up

3 Mentoring Program Overview

4 men·tor (mĕn'tôr', -tər) n. 1. A wise and trusted counselor or teacher. 2. Mentor Greek Mythology. Odysseus's trusted counselor, in whose guise Athena became the guardian and teacher of Telemachus.

5 Mentoring Program Components 12 Month Commitment 12 Month Commitment Up to 12 telephone/in-person sessions during the year. Up to 12 telephone/in-person sessions during the year. Focused around defined goals for the mentoring. Focused around defined goals for the mentoring. Leadership Training provided. Leadership Training provided. Visit for the Mentee at Mentor’s location or conference. Visit for the Mentee at Mentor’s location or conference. Quarterly reporting by Mentee. Quarterly reporting by Mentee. Professional coach support available for Mentors. Professional coach support available for Mentors. Routine check-ins by Program staff. Routine check-ins by Program staff. Workbook with program guidance. Workbook with program guidance. Mentoring Tips via program Listserv. Mentoring Tips via program Listserv.

6 Mentoring Program Flow EventFocus Orientation Session Program overview Establish preliminary goals of mentee Hold “first session” Plan logistics for future sessions Forms to use: Getting Acquainted, Mentoring Logistics Getting AcquaintedMentoring LogisticsGetting AcquaintedMentoring Logistics On-going Mentoring Sessions Monthly for 12 months Mentee’s overall goals and focus for the session Actions Mentee has taken since the last session Requests of Mentor for assistance Actions Mentee will take before next session Logistics for next session (date/time and who places call) Forms to use: Setting Mentoring Goals, Session Preparation for Mentee and Session Structure for Mentor Setting Mentoring GoalsSession Preparation for MenteeSession Structure for MentorSetting Mentoring GoalsSession Preparation for MenteeSession Structure for Mentor Program Staff Support Individual assistance as needed Individual assistance as needed Reimbursed Leadership Training for Mentee Reimbursed Leadership Training for Mentee One reimbursed Mentor/Mentee visit One reimbursed Mentor/Mentee visit Coaching support available for Mentors Coaching support available for Mentors

7 Program Staff Support Key ongoing contact for Mentors and Mentees Key ongoing contact for Mentors and Mentees Contact Info Contact Info Contact for travel arrangements and logistics Contact for travel arrangements and logistics Contact info Contact info Orientation/Presenter providing orientation training, and offering coaching support to Mentors. Orientation/Presenter providing orientation training, and offering coaching support to Mentors. Contact info Contact info

8 Creating an Effective Mentoring Relationship

9 Effective Mentoring Relationships Consider a past mentoring relationship that was effective and meaningful for you: Consider a past mentoring relationship that was effective and meaningful for you: With types of issues did you work with? With types of issues did you work with? What was it about the relationship that made it so meaningful? What was it about the relationship that made it so meaningful? What would make this process/relationship equally or more effective and meaningful? What would make this process/relationship equally or more effective and meaningful?

10 Methods to an effective session Check in: Update since last session Check in: Update since last session Focus: Choose a topic/focus; be purposeful Focus: Choose a topic/focus; be purposeful Be Curious: Stimulate discussion with probing questions Be Curious: Stimulate discussion with probing questions Move to Action: Move to Action: Mentor helps mentee see actions they can take Mentor helps mentee see actions they can take Mentee makes requests of Mentor as appropriate Mentee makes requests of Mentor as appropriate Mentor makes offers of assistance as appropriate Mentor makes offers of assistance as appropriate Conclude cleanly: What is the “take away” and what actions are both committed to take? What is the date/time for next call; who will place it? Conclude cleanly: What is the “take away” and what actions are both committed to take? What is the date/time for next call; who will place it?

11 Lessons Learned Logistics are key Logistics are key Create an upfront schedule of appointments Create an upfront schedule of appointments Be clear on who is placing the call Be clear on who is placing the call Have an agreement around rescheduling Have an agreement around rescheduling Keep it Purposeful Keep it Purposeful Create a structure for the sessions Create a structure for the sessions Mentee should be clear on what they want to get out of the mentoring (Goals) Mentee should be clear on what they want to get out of the mentoring (Goals) Both Mentor and Mentee should prepare for the session Both Mentor and Mentee should prepare for the session

12 Possible Session Topics Union Leadership in general Union Leadership in general Other Union Specific topics: Other Union Specific topics: Labor’s Current Agenda Labor’s Current Agenda Organizing Organizing Political Activism Political Activism Mentor’s career path and lessons learned Mentor’s career path and lessons learned Networking methods Networking methods Contacts and connections mentor has that are useful to mentee Contacts and connections mentor has that are useful to mentee Understanding Mentor’s specialty area (and/or reaching out to other mentors/mentees on areas of interest) Understanding Mentor’s specialty area (and/or reaching out to other mentors/mentees on areas of interest) Diversity Resources website reading topics Diversity Resources website reading topics Others useful topics? Others useful topics?

13 Mentoring Experiences If your organization has done mentoring invite a pair to present their experiences If your organization has done mentoring invite a pair to present their experiences Mentor and Mentee Names and Titles Mentor and Mentee Names and Titles

14 Next Steps 1. Today’s Lunch: Use Getting Acquainted to guide a conversation with your partner 2. After lunch—have “first” Session: Plan Logistics using Mentoring Logistics Plan Logistics using Mentoring LogisticsMentoring LogisticsMentoring Logistics Begin actual Mentoring process by talking about Mentee’s first goal. Use Setting Mentoring Goals and Session Structure for Mentor. Begin actual Mentoring process by talking about Mentee’s first goal. Use Setting Mentoring Goals and Session Structure for Mentor.Setting Mentoring GoalsSession Structure for MentorSetting Mentoring GoalsSession Structure for Mentor 3. After today—Conduct Next Session: Make sure it is scheduled before you complete today! Mentee use Session Preparation for Mentee to prepare for session. Mentor be prepared to guide the session using Session Structure for Mentor. Session Preparation for MenteeSession Structure for MentorSession Preparation for MenteeSession Structure for Mentor

15 Mentor’s Segment

16 Roles and Skills of Mentor Roles of Mentor Skills of Mentor Teacher Share experiences without dictating “the way” Share experiences without dictating “the way” Support mentee through resources/expertise Support mentee through resources/expertise Thinking Partner Help mentee see possibilities Help mentee see possibilities Help illuminate blindspots Help illuminate blindspots Curious Listener and Coach Rapport Building Rapport Building Listening Listening Asking Questions Asking Questions Committed partner Be prepared for sessions. Use the Session Structure for Mentor form to help Be prepared for sessions. Use the Session Structure for Mentor form to helpSession Structure for MentorSession Structure for Mentor Keep it purposeful: Facilitate movement Keep it purposeful: Facilitate movement Make offers of assistance Make offers of assistance Make and keep agreements Make and keep agreements

17 Next Steps for You 1. Conduct First Session: See Sample Session Structure. 2. Consider Resources: Consider what connections or other resources might be useful for your mentee. 3. Coaching Session: See schedule. 4. On-going Assistance: If you need additional assistance contact: orientation presenter/mentor coach.

18 First Mentoring Session

19 Being an effective Mentee What to do How to do Set Goals Be clear on what you want to gain from the mentoring Be clear on what you want to gain from the mentoring Use the Setting Mentoring Goals form to clarify your thinking Use the Setting Mentoring Goals form to clarify your thinkingSetting Mentoring GoalsSetting Mentoring Goals Take Action Take action between sessions Take action between sessions Try new practices; take risks Try new practices; take risks Be Curious Build Rapport Build Rapport Listen deeply Listen deeply Ask questions Ask questions Be a committed partner Be prepared for sessions. Use the Session Preparation For Mentees form to help. Be prepared for sessions. Use the Session Preparation For Mentees form to help.Session Preparation For MenteesSession Preparation For Mentees Keep it purposeful Keep it purposeful Make requests of your mentor Make requests of your mentor Make and keep agreements Make and keep agreements

20 Roles of the Mentor Roles of Mentor Skills of Mentor Teacher Share experiences without dictating “the way” Share experiences without dictating “the way” Support mentee through resources/expertise Support mentee through resources/expertise Thinking Partner Help mentee see possibilities Help mentee see possibilities Help illuminate blindspots Help illuminate blindspots Curious Listener and Coach Build Rapport Build Rapport Listen deeply Listen deeply Ask questions Ask questions Committed partner Be prepared for sessions. Use the Session Structure For Mentors form to help Be prepared for sessions. Use the Session Structure For Mentors form to helpSession Structure For MentorsSession Structure For Mentors Keep it purposeful: Facilitate movement Keep it purposeful: Facilitate movement Make offers of assistance Make offers of assistance Make and keep agreements Make and keep agreements

21 Methods to an effective session Check in: Update since last session Check in: Update since last session Focus: Choose a topic/focus; be purposeful Focus: Choose a topic/focus; be purposeful Be Curious: Stimulate discussion with probing questions Be Curious: Stimulate discussion with probing questions Move to Action: Move to Action: Mentor helps mentee see actions they can take Mentor helps mentee see actions they can take Mentee makes requests of Mentor as appropriate Mentee makes requests of Mentor as appropriate Mentor makes offers of assistance as appropriate Mentor makes offers of assistance as appropriate Conclude cleanly: What is the “take away” and what actions are both committed to take? What is the date/time for next call; who will place it? Conclude cleanly: What is the “take away” and what actions are both committed to take? What is the date/time for next call; who will place it?

22 Mentoring Goals To be effective, we need to answer these questions: What is it I want to create in the future? What is it I want to create in the future? Why is this important to me? Why is this important to me? What resources or assistance would I like from my mentor? What resources or assistance would I like from my mentor? What other resources are available? What other resources are available? What actions am I already taking toward this goal? What actions am I already taking toward this goal? What other actions do I commit to take toward this goal? What other actions do I commit to take toward this goal?

Examples of Goals My mentor works for a central labor council, and I always wanted to learn more about the relationship between CLCs and local, district and national unions, and how to get involved. My mentor works for a central labor council, and I always wanted to learn more about the relationship between CLCs and local, district and national unions, and how to get involved. As a new Secretary-Treasurer of my local union, I would like to learn more about being successful in this position. As a new Secretary-Treasurer of my local union, I would like to learn more about being successful in this position. I’d like to get pointers from my mentor about my career path. Does my mentor have union contacts in the area of labor law? I’d like to get pointers from my mentor about my career path. Does my mentor have union contacts in the area of labor law? I’ve seen the negative impact caused by non-active members. I want to learn ways to strengthen my local by getting members involved and active. I’ve seen the negative impact caused by non-active members. I want to learn ways to strengthen my local by getting members involved and active. 23

24 Next Steps 1. Schedule next session and make sure logistics are clear. Prepare for the session. 2. Mentee complete other Goals forms and e- mail or fax to Mentor. 3. Be prepared for your next session. See Session Preparation for Mentees and Session Structure for Mentors. Session Preparation for MenteesSession Structure for Mentors Session Preparation for MenteesSession Structure for Mentors 4. Questions: If you have questions about the program contact: key ongoing Program contact.

25 Wrap-up Questions and Comments Questions and Comments One take-away One take-away Complete the Evaluation Complete the Evaluation