1. MENTORSHIP TRAINING Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans “The voluntary, developmental relationship that exists between a person of greater experience and a person of lesser experience that is characterized by mutual trust and respect.”

2. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans Why does the DAV need mentors or a mentorship program?? Do you remember when you first joined the DAV? Do you remember how ‘intimidating’ it might have been, or confusing, all of the programs, positions, responsibilities others had? Our organization is very complex, and understanding all of the different functions, programs & roles, helps a member do a better job of recruiting new members and assisting those already within our ranks. But to accomplish that, we need to understand the ‘right’ way of doing it What is ‘mentorship’? Mentorship is essentially the interaction between two or more people, one experienced in something, sharing it with another to help them grow individually while educating them on how a process or organization functions

3. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans What is a ‘mentor’? A mentor shares his or her knowledge in such a way as to help educate & motivate someone while providing guidance in personal or professional development. This can accomplished by encouraging someone to take a more active role in the organization, participation in certain events, or simply sharing information about roles and responsibilities. Mentors informally advise, guide, teach, and coach others to help impart their experience and thereby helping someone develop and become a more vital part of a group or organization. But mentors are not professional counselors or social workers and must remain aware of their own limitations. What does a mentor do? A mentor is someone who oversees and assists in personal & professional growth & development of another person based upon their knowledge and skills

4. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans How does a mentor accomplish this? A mentor uses 3 stages to achieve their goals: Developing Rapport – Establishing common ground & interests Building Trust – earn respect in sharing knowledge will build mutual trust Setting & Reaching Goals – Set goals in small steps, and work to achieve them one at a time. A good mentor undertsands this is not a process accomplished overnight or in a few short days, but an on-going process that requires time and most of all, patience.

5. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans What is needed for mentorship to work? First, a mentor - who is knowledgeable about the DAV, interested in sharing that knowledge, and Secondly, a ‘mentee’ - someone willing to learn. A mentor must know their a bit about the pressure a new member feels upon joining our organization, how to make new members feel welcome and wanted. Many new members, and older members alike, desire to be a bigger part of the DAV, but are often intimidated by asking for help. A good mentor will establish a ‘natural’ relationship with someone, a mentee, who likewise will indicate the desire to learn more about the organization or express a desire to take a more active role.

6. What makes a mentor successful? Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans Why should YOU become a mentor? By being involved in this training, chances are you already hold a position of some kind within your chapter. Regardless of the position, we all have a responsibility to our comrades in educating them, and helping them become more knowledgeable about what the DAV does. Maybe your role is as a chairperson of some kind –in that role you already possess a great deal of information, that if shared properly, will see others willing to become active participants in supporting your committee. For many, all it requires is a relaxed approach, and many successful mentors find sharing information something they already do naturally. This need not be a complicated, nor even a formal process, just the willingness to share correct and complete information regarding our organization, roles of officers, or about activities. For example – a new Chapter Service Officer will usually find other CSOs who have been doing claims work to be a natural source of finding a good mentor.

7. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans Why should YOU become a mentor? (Continued) Mentors usually feel a strong sense of accomplishment & pride in having helped someone learn more or become a more effective participant in any organization. It also serves to prepare mentors for increased responsibility and different leadership roles later on, and the respect they gain truly promotes not just the mentor, but overall confidence in our organization as a group of professionals dedicated to assisting veterans & their families. What are some of the different things mentors provide?  Providing organizational knowledge  Providing encouragement in activities  Providing emotional support  Participating in social experiences Mentors play a huge role, not just in educating new members, but in building their self-esteem. By showing genuine concern, providing correct & accurate information, and encouraging active participation, a mentor goes a long way to helping the overall organization become stronger & more proficient. But while a mentor is supposed to be knowledgeable, listening to the mentees questions can be an even greater asset.

8. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans What are the benefits to the mentor & organization? Benefits to the Mentors  Mentors gain personal and professional satisfaction in helping.  Mentors gain recognition from their peers.  Mentors gain improved interpersonal skills.  Mentoring focuses the mentor outside of him/herself.  Mentoring promotes deeper understanding of DAV Programs. Benefits to the Organization  Mentoring builds morale.  Mentoring develops the same skills needed for successful and effective chapter and department leaders.  Mentoring enhances the image of the DAV.  Mentoring recognizes the competence of members.  Mentoring prepares members to take on greater responsibilities in the organization.  Mentoring helps the DAV revitalize the community.

9. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans What are the rules of communication? Make your communication positive; Be clear and specific. 2. Recognize that each individual sees things from a different point of view. 3. Be open and honest about your feelings; But be supportive and accepting. 4. Do not preach or lecture; Learn to listen. 5. Maintain eye contact. 6. Allow time for your youth to talk without interruption; show you are interested. 7. Listen for a feeling tone as well as for words. 8. Ask questions when you do not understand and set examples rather than giving advice.

10. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans What are the differences between giving advice & problem solving? Giving Advice  Implores passive, possibly resistant behavior  Cuts off further exploration of problem  Often premature  No learning event  Can impose mentor’s solution on problem  Does not encourage self-esteem Problem Solving  Active; participative  Opens lines of communication  Eliminates timing problem  Solution belongs to individual  Fosters self-esteem

11. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans Use Questions to Clarify Outcomes  What do you really want in this situation?  What is important about this outcome to you?  Who/what can you use as resources to get what you want?  Who do you know that has already achieved this outcome, and how did they do it?  Is this outcome possible to achieve?  Can the outcome be initiated and sustained by you?  Is this outcome consistent with who you are?  Considering what it will take and the possible consequences, is the outcome worth doing? What are the best questions to ask?

12. Department of Alabama Disabled American Veterans How will the Chapter & Department support your role as a mentor? Chapter and Department staff will support your mentoring efforts in a variety of ways throughout your tenure.  Exchange telephone numbers with other mentors so that contact can be made for purposes of support, sharing, and organizing group activities.  Attend all department training opportunities; these trainings are for the purpose of discussion, interaction, and problem solving.  Utilize the Chapter/Department website and Facebook pages to solicit questions and get answers.