Mentoring

By Carol DeLatte, DTM

Mentoring is an important component of Toastmasters. Studies have shown that Toastmasters with a mentor will stay with the program longer than those without a mentor. Every new Toastmaster should be assigned a mentor by the time they receive their New Member packet from Toastmasters International.

But, where do you begin, if you’ve never been a mentor before? Here is a primer to get you started:

·         Arrange for a meeting with the new Toastmaster. This could be over a cup of coffee or even in a conference room for those in corporate clubs. Plan on about 30 minutes for the introductory meeting. You (and/or your mentee) will need a CC manual and a CL manual.

·         Share a bit of your background with the mentee

• How you got started in Toastmasters
• What benefits it has had for you (less crutch words, increased confidence, etc.)
• What manual or goal you’re currently working on
• Share your enthusiasm for assisting them

·         See if the mentee has any goals in mind yet … it’s okay if they don’t …

·         Talk about the Ice Breaker speech. Break it down for them… it’s like doing 3 Table Topics in a row. They’ll share 3 things with the audience, usually something about themselves. Some ideas:

• Where did they grow up?
• What brought them to the Dallas, TX area (if they grew up elsewhere)
•  Family dynamics – the family they grew up with or the family they’ve created
• Favorite sport(s)
•  Hobbies/pastimes
• Their career
• Maybe even what they hope to glean from their Toastmasters journey

·         Explain that they only need to talk about each of the 3 topics for 1 ½–2 minutes each (much like responding as a Table Topics Speaker).

·        Speeches 2, 3, and 4 can be more in-depth speeches about the 3 topics they talked about in their Ice Breaker… still topics they are very familiar with, only now they will be able to talk more about it. Break each of these speeches into 3 topics each, and by the time they get past these 4 speeches, they will have almost half the CC manual done!

They may not be ready for the Ice Breaker just yet, and that’s okay. Pull out the CL manual and explain that by participating in the meetings, they will get credit for that, too. But keep encouraging them to get past that first speech!

The most important thing is that they know you will be there for them and believe in them and their potential. Sit next to them in meetings, and try to schedule regular meetings about once a month. Offer to listen to their speeches as they practice so they can be better prepared and more confident when delivering the speeches.

Mentoring really is a win-win relationship. Embrace it, and watch new Toastmasters blossom! It’s very rewarding.