On Giants' Shoulders

 Our Club Mentoring Programme

"If I have seen further, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants".
--- Isaac Newton

We have many giants at Norwich Speakers! Our Club Mentoring Programme is a way for those giants to offer their broad shoulders to other members who are looking for help climbing the public speaking ladder.

The programme is an opportunity for us to match up newer members or those who wish to learn certain speaking skills with more experienced members who want to teach those skills.

What Is a Mentor?

The Toastmasters International programme "The Magic of Mentoring" describes it like this:

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

It has been said about being a Mentor ....

"As a Mentor you gain  immense satisfaction and sense of achievement in seeing the person that you are mentoring, grow and develop to their full potential. The aim is for the student to surpass the master."

New Members - What's in it for me?

For new members, the opportunity to work closely with a more experienced member helps you:

  • Learn the Club programme
  • Learn how we do things
  • Develop confidence
  • Participate more
  • Quickly learn speaking skills and pick up tips and pointers

Mentors - What's in it for me?

Are you an experienced member looking for a new challenge? Would you like to have more coaching opportunities than a three-minute speech evaluation allows? Do you enjoy passing on your expertise and experience to new members?

As a mentor, you can:

  • Learn from mentees
  • Remain productive within the Club
  • Do something for others
  • Gain recognition for your efforts

What makes a good mentor?  Toastmasters International lists these qualities - how many apply to you?

  • Available
  • Patient
  • Sensitive
  • Respectful
  • Flexible
  • Supportive of the Club
  • Knowledgeable
  • Confident
  • Good listener
  • Concerned about others

How does the programme work?

Mentors and mentees should work together in ways that are most comfortable for them. There are no hard-and-fast rules for the best way to make the relationship work. The only "best way" is the way that works best for you.

As a guide, think about the mentor's role as leading the mentee through three stages: orientation, education and participation.

Orientation

Initially, mentors should:
  • Sit with their mentee at Club meetings
  • Orient them to customs and procedures
  • Help with the Ice Breaker

Education

To help their mentee develop their speaking skills, mentors should:
  • Make the mentee aware of the resources available
  • Provide positive feedback
  • Provide guidance for improvement
  • Help with speeches and other assignments

Participation

To help their mentee take an active role in Club activities, mentors can:
  • Explain how they have gained benefits themselves
  • Explain duties of club officers
  • Explain speech contests
  • Describe the Toastmasters organisation

Where do I sign?

If you'd like to be a mentor, a mentee, or both, speak with the Vice President of Membership (Martin Brocklebank) or email you request.

Mentoring is for the entire club, not just for the most experienced and least experienced members. If you have some experience that you would like to share with other members in a one-to-one role, please offer your services as a mentor. And if there is something specific you would like to learn - for example, making humorous speeches, speaking without notes, or using technology in presentations - ask Martin, Liz or Mike A to match you up with a suitable mentor.

The Last Word

Members of Norwich Speakers are already known for their generosity and time in helping new members. So what's new in the Mentoring Programme?

"It offers a new dimension of continuous improvement and learning for all our members; genuine friendship and greater knowledge of the people we share our time with at the meetings. There is no need for our new members to re-invent the wheel nor to flounder. We need to make the transition to a confident, qualified Toastmaster as simple and quick as possible. This will happen if you become their Mentor." Steve Bowler,  former Vice President for Education, St Georges Club Australia.

Great Mentoring Moments in History

President: Liz Gill
Vice President of Membership: Martin Brocklebank
Vice President Education: Mike Allerton

adapted from a webpage for the St George's Toastmasters Club Perth Western Australia