Shannon Rauen and Amy Hutmacher Building Successful Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Relationships

 What is peer-to-peer mentoring?  Mentorship that takes place between a person who has lived through a specific experience (like deployments, PCSs, FRGs) and someone new to that type of experience.  Peer mentors may be closer in age or experience level to the person they are mentoring. Mentors Matter: The benefits of peer-to-peer mentoring

 What are the benefits of peer-to-peer mentoring programs for participants & units?  Provides support for incoming or new spouses.  Answers questions about specific experiences (like deployment) and helps set realistic, reasonable expectations.  Creates additional leadership opportunities within the FRG. Mentors Matter: The benefits of peer-to-peer mentoring

 What are the benefits of peer-to-peer mentoring programs for participants & units?  Encourages involvement in activities like the FRG.  Helps spouses create informal support networks.  Avenue for FRGs to meet their mission of helping families solve problems at the lowest level and communicating accurate, command-sponsored information. Mentors Matter: The benefits of peer-to-peer mentoring

A mentor can:  give you advice and support.  offer a different perspective on a problem or situation you are facing.  serve as a sounding board.  help you navigate Army and community resources. Mentors Matter: What a mentor can provide

As a mentor, you can:  share your knowledge and experience with others.  gain valuable leadership experience.  improve your communication and outreach skills.  assist your spouse’s unit in a meaningful way. Mentors Matter: How serving as a mentor can impact you

 Mentor relationships aren’t built overnight and don’t happen instantaneously  Determine if someone is a good match for your personality Be aware that you are not looking for someone exactly like you.  Get to know one another

 Be on-time; be prepared  Know in advance what topics you want to discuss  Your mentor may also be a military spouse, so be mindful of their time and energy constraints, especially if their own Soldier is currently deployed or TDY

 Try to present situations objectively and ask for advice on how to handle it  The mentoring relationship is professional in nature  Maintain your support system outside of the mentor relationship  Battle buddy, friends, neighbors, relatives

Good mentors will:  Expand your perspective  Encourage you to consider alternative courses of action  Share their experiences and help you learn from their successes and failures You will not always agree with your mentor and you will likely have a difference of opinion from your mentor on one or more topics

 A mentor’s job is to encourage their mentee and provide support  Reduce stress  Help make their volunteer experience positive and rewarding

 Reach out to your mentee as soon as you can  Get to know each other. Be aware that things like work commitments, kids at home, soldier deployed can impact the best way to communicate with one another.  Discuss your expectations for frequency and how you will communicate with one another

Listen to your mentee and offer advice, if appropriate Help your mentee access resources, if needed – Introduce them to other peers or share info about resources on post like ACS, unit chaplain, or MFLC – Offer to meet them at unit events like FRG meetings, chaplain retreats, or deployment fairs – Help your mentee problem-solve, if needed – Share stories of your experiences and how you dealt with difficult situations

 Be gentle with your feedback  Check in regularly and ask how things are going  Keep conversations confidential  Offer perspective based on your experience  Be positive and encouraging