Mentoring for Leadership – Ensure Members are Engaged and Informed

Leave no member behind. Every member has a right to learn, participate, be respected and rewarded.

It is up to you and me to mentor our members, create a positive experience and open the door to opportunities. Learning is a two-sided activity for both a mentor/leader and mentee.

The past several months members have been engaged in learning more about the importance of mentoring. Mentors have been identified with an individual or group to be mentored. Encouragement has been given to implement a program on each level of the organization to assure members have every opportunity to learn and be heard. With this process, future leaders will emerge.

Now is a good time to review the process and evaluate the positive and weakness of your Auxiliary mentoring program.

Reflections to think about:

What is a member thinking when attending an Auxiliary meeting whether it is their first time or after many years? Are mentoring resources available?

• Listen and find out what the member thinks. Is there room for communication improvement?
  • Did your Auxiliary participate in the VFW Auxiliary Member Questionnaire and review the results?
• Inquire if a member is interested in taking an active role in a project or leadership position.
  • Provide direction and resources to enable a positive experience.
    • Refer to reference materials available from previous Chairmen or leadership.
    • Volunteer to assist in the process.
• What resource materials have been reviewed and shared at a meeting?
  • National Bylaws.
  • Building on the VFW Auxiliary Foundation guidebooks.
  • Mentoring at VFW Auxiliary: Relationship Building for the Future.
  • Various program resource materials, including the Online Auxiliary Academy.
• Observe if the meeting is positive and informative, or waste of time.
  • Encourage a brief icebreaker prior to opening the meeting.
  • Consider the use of nametags for all members.
  • Do members feel valued and welcomed to participate?
  • Are Chairmen having fun with reporting?
  • Are Department and National communications reviewed and discussed?
• Is there an opportunity to ask questions?
  • There are no dumb questions. All questions should be welcomed and answered.
  • Positive questions are more likely to generate positive energy that leads to people achieving positive results.
• When wanting to respond to a comment or report by another individual that you don’t totally agree with:
  • Don’t provide criticism of their point of view. Offer a couple positive things you like about what they said. Then provide one idea you think could be changed. Be cautious how you react. Instead of being negative, try to focus on the positive outcome that could happen.
• If an idea is presented as a demand, e.g. “we have to do this project” or “you must do it this way,” recommend presenting the idea as a suggestion or question.
  • Get rid of the demand attitude for a more positive approach.
  • Be open to new ideas.
  • Prepare for the present and future.
• As a member you have an investment in the success of the Auxiliary. Are the following traits being followed? You have the right to:
  • Be informed about when a meeting will be held (time, date and place).
  • See and hear what is going on.
  • Be heard when speaking.
  • Understand the meaning of proposed action.
  • Know all the facts and the opportunity to discuss prior to approval by vote.
  • Participate in selecting officers and delegates.
  • Receive all the information available pertaining to your Auxiliary.
  • Request a mentor.

By being informed and educated, members prove to be a valuable resource for the Auxiliary. Given a positive Auxiliary experience and supportive opportunity, a member will be open to being a future leader. With the election of Delegates, Officers and appointment of new Chairmen happening soon, now is the time to make sure all members are engaged and informed.

Recognition for positive mentoring.

NOW is the time to prepare and submit nomination forms to your respective Department Chairman for Mentoring for Leadership Award for Members No. 1 and Auxiliaries No. 1.

Award for Members No. 1. Citation awarded to the first, second and third place member in each Department who is instrumental in fulfilling the role as a mentor/leader.

Things to consider when filling out the form.

• Provide an explanation how member initiated engagement with the individual(s) to be mentored.
• Explanation of approach used: meetings, outside meeting room, other events, personal contact.
• Explanation of any materials used: handouts, Auxiliary resource materials, etc.
• Identify if the mentee was from mentor’s Auxiliary or another Auxiliary. Was the mentoring activity related to Local, District and/or Department level.
• Submit supportive evidence of method used and results, however, do not submit a scrapbook.

Award for Auxiliaries No. 1.  Most outstanding implementation of a Mentoring for Leadership Program.

ALL Auxiliaries should be submitting a form to receive acknowledgement for their endeavors.

Things to consider when filling out the form.

• Explanation of how member(s) were designated to be a mentor.
• Explanation of how Auxiliary initiated engagement with individual(s) to be mentored.
• Explanation of approach and type of mentoring/training that was used: one-on-one, meetings, outside meeting room other events, personal contact.
• Explanation of any materials used: Bylaws, Booklet of Instructions, Ritual, handouts, PowerPoint, Auxiliary resource materials, etc.
• Identify how many mentors and mentees were involved with program.
• Submit evidence of process and materials used along with results. Do not submit a scrapbook.

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” – Steven Spielberg.