BUILDING BETTER ZONTA LEADERS District 6 Fall Conference 2015

How Can Zonta Help 2 1)How Can Zonta Help Build Leadership Skills? Provide a safe place to Step Outside your comfort zone Motivates members to gain knowledge and confidence in new areas and continue learning Team building opportunities Provide a safe place to take on progressively larger leadership roles Leadership positions are backed up by “seasoned” members

How Can Zonta Help 1)How Can Zonta Help Build Leadership Skills? Provide an opportunity to act as Role Models for next Generation Provides a sense of accomplishment in motivating Club activities to achieve Zonta’s mission Skills learned in Zonta are applicable in other areas of our lives

How Can Zonta Help 2) Next Steps in Developing as Leaders Attending all meetings, workshops, conferences, and conventions Continued Zonta Learning – Read and share all distributed materials Try Something new – new projects and areas outside your comfort zone Network with other Zonta leaders Expect to assume leadership positions – “Take a breath and just do it Mentor others MAKE IT FUN!

Encouraging & Supporting How can Members help? Be engaged in Club activities Offer to help and follow through on agreed activity Attend and focus on meetings – Make eye contact, use active listening, participate in discussion but minimize side bar conversations and interruptions Accept new ideas and new approaches – Avoid “we’ve always done it that way” Limit criticism and when needed do it in private and be constructive.

Barriers, Burdens & Strategies 1 ) Barriers: Time or financial constraints Over commitment Perceived lack of qualifications Fear of doing a “bad” job or how other will perceive us Members Attitudes/Intimidation Lack of Passion/Belief in the Mission Lack of Good Role models Lack of Knowledge about Zonta Lack of Opportunities Lack of Mentoring

Barriers, Burdens & Stategies 2 ) Succession Planning: Educate members on the Zonta World  Maintain an updated Zonta Calendar  Encourage participation at Workshops/Conference Break tasks down so that everyone can contribute

Barriers, Burdens & Strategies Use the Buddy System:  Invite new members to accompany their mentor/seasoned member to their committee meeting or activity  Use Co-Chairs/Sub-Chairs for Committees/Events/Projects  Officers mentor successor – “Shadow Secretary” etc

Barriers, Burdens & Strategies 3 ) Make the Ask Create a Culture of Succession  Start with short term achievable tasks  Provide ongoing support  Provide a safety net that Says it’s Ok to fail  Recognize a job well done

Barriers, Burdens, & Strategies 3) Make the Ask Ask those who haven’t stepped forward or haven’t been asked before  Make it a personal request – face to face  Follow up with the request  If No, ask when they could serve

Barriers, Burdens, & Strategies 4) How to Marry the “Old Guard” with New Members Be a missionary for change Build personal connections and nurture these connections  Mix up members at meetings to avoid cliques  Give ZI Table topics for discussion at dinner  Have social meetings outside of Club meetings  Use the Buddy system to build relationships Document lessons learned Be open to feedback and act on it if appropriate Use “seasoned” members as Mentors

Create a Climate of Kindness: Mentor & Encourage the Next Generation 1) Know Your Members Skills Strong mentoring program (See Tools) Ask new members what they are good at/would like to learn Ask why they joined and what they want to do Keep up with members’ career development/advances/needs Use short member presentations at club meetings – who they are, what they do, what other positions have they held, etc. Bios in the newsletters – new and experienced members alike

Create a Culture of Kindness: Mentor & Encourage the Next Generation 2) Offer Opportunities Give new members something to do right away Not just newer embers but experienced members also Mentor existing leaders into new positions Encourage rotation of positions – Avoid recycling (fosters member growth/development and keeps things fresh) Encourage newer members to take leadership roles Brainstorm participation outside committees Build/use/refine a living succession plan (See Tools) Provide training and learning from past projects/events (See Tools)

Creating a Culture of Kindness: Mentor & Encourage the Next Generation 3) Practice Personal Encouragement Encourage & support new ideas and approaches Recognize contributions Create a shadowing system: Co-chairing, Zonta Buddy Take a chance on someone new or in a new role Recruit newer members onto committees When faced with a new idea, ask ”how can I help?” and resist “we tried that before”: NO FEAR OF FAILURE

Creating a Culture of Kindness: Mentor & Encourage the Next Generation TOOLS 1)Mentoring Program (New Members) Develop a strong orientation process with a long term approach (at least 1 year) Develop and use a New Member Packet Train and monitor mentors Active, structured process - NOT “go read the Manual”

Creating a Culture of Kindness: Mentor & Encourage the Next Generation 2) Succession plan (All Club members) Develop a plan for Committees, Board and Officer positions Leverage projects/Fundraisers Develop & Use Committee, project, fundraiser positions/responsibilities Develop a Leadership Development Team – Past Presidents and other leaders Remember we were all new members once!

Create Climate for Growth- helping to create success 17 Mentoring: Focus on ZI Mission Build a well rounded Zonta Knowledge base Help to expand Zonta networking Provide opportunity to attend Zonta meetings, workshop, conferences Provide Resources:  Review the ZI website: Club Tools, webinars, etc.  Review Club Templates, Project Action Plans/Notes  Provide Leadership “Coaches”

Create Climate for growth – helping to create success Be Supportive:  Be their Cheerleader  Give positive feedback  Give constructive advice  Let them take risks  Show them that its safe “to fail” and learn