New Toastmasters can only achieve, grow, and learn if they have a “best friend,” a coach/mentor who will share with the protégé his/her wisdom, knowledge and experience. Not everyone has the eagerness, time or motivation to be a Coach.
A Coach is not a father or mother-figure, but rather a role model. The purpose of coaching is to provide the knowledge that the protégé needs to fully develop communication skills, leadership traits and greater self-confidence. Those selected in South County Toastmasters to perform this important and valuable function are required to perform the following duties and fulfill the following responsibilities:
– Build rapport, learn needs and expectations of the protégé, describe Club operations and duties of the officers, and explain responsibilities of members.
– Make the protégé feel welcome, introduce him/her to other Club members, let him/her know that you always may be contacted if questions or problems arise, and show where restrooms and beverage and snack machines are located.
– Explain Competent Communication and Competent Leadership Manuals and the Distinguished Club Plan, commence work on IceBreaker (then each subsequent speech), ensure that tasks and speeches are recorded in Record of Progress, and call or email protégé frequently to respond to questions and to make sure problems have not developed.
– As protégé is scheduled, go over the requirements of the task, sit with the protégé (or have a veteran sit) and assist, find an evaluator for tasks in the CL Manual, and provide a second evaluation of protégé’s speeches.
– Establish goals with protégé, explain effort and commitment needed to achieve these goals, monitor goals’ progress, continually monitor protégé’s attendance and follow-up if meetings are missed, and encourage protégé to assume greater responsibility, even that of Club officer.
– Offer advice to assist the protégé in improving, provide positive reinforcement and offer constructive suggestions, and always be prepared for any role since, as Coach, one is to be a role model.
Sue Dickemper
southcountytoastmasters.org 