Applications are now being taken for the 2010 Mentoring Program. Please read and understand the Mentoring Overview below before applying for this program. You must be a member of NAWBO-OC to apply to be a mentee. Those applying to be Mentors (who have not been mentors in the past) should contact Dee Elliott for specifics.
Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to have a successful women business owner give you her time and expertise for 8 months. There is limited space so please sign up quickly to be considered. If you have questions, please contact the founder/director of the program, Dee Elliott at 714-813-7190.
I am so grateful to have been a part of NAWBO's mentoring program. Everyone should be fortunate enough to have a mentor in their life. Having someone to share ideas with (without judgment) is invaluable as a person and business woman.
Had I not had regularly scheduled meetings with action items to complete before our next get together, I would have missed out on some new business opportunities.
My mentor helped me to affirm my confidence and commitment to the vision for my company and the services I provide. Thank you so much!
The mentoring program has given me the opportunity to focus on positioning my business for growth with an experienced business professional, while multiplying the effort I put toward building my business. The mentor matching process is very effective; I was matched with someone that has similar interests with complementary skills. My mentor has been a sounding board for my ideas, interjecting structure, and challenging me to excel. Clearly this is a mature program. The mentoring committee deserves a commendation for their program meetings that happen 3 times a year. They do a remarkable job selecting quality speakers with proven track records. These meetings provide genuine advice to enhance our business success. I highly recommend members that desire business growth to submit an application to become a mentee. The time and effort is well worth the investment.
Dec 1: Applications open on website.
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1st Photo: 2009 Mentoring Committee, Center-Dee Elliott, Founder/Director and clockwise Pam Adams, Ali Green, Kimberly Gerber and Cathy Daugherty. |
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Mentoring Overview
GOALS OF THE NAWBO MENTORING PROGRAM:
To use available resources within the NAWBO organization
to help other NAWBO members achieve their personal and professional
goals more effectively through mentoring.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MENTORS:
1) You must be a NAWBO member, established business owner,
or corporate sponsor.
2) You must be a good listener, be proactive and
be a proven leader.
3) You must have a proven track record of success
4)
You must be able to keep the program and your mentor/mentee relationship
confidential, and commit to taking no money for your services from
your mentee.
5) You must be able to commit to the time requirements
(2-3 hours/month plus the 4 hour training seminar). You must fill out
the program
application on line. (New mentors will be interviewed to be certain
they are right for the position)
REQUIREMENTS FOR MENTEES:
1) You must be an active NAWBO member and have been so for 2 months.
2) You must complete the application form completely.
3)
You must be able to commit to the time requirements that are
put forth by the program, including the kick off training, mid year
and year end meetings.
4) You must pay a non-refundable fee of $300.00 prior to the start of the program.
5) You must sign a letter of commitment, committing
you to the full 8 months and a liability letter to NAWBO-OC
Definition of a Mentor: A wise, loyal advisor. A teacher or coach, a communicator, a guide who helps you plan your journey of discovery.
Mentoring is the latest buzzword of the new millennium. We've heard it in business and in our personal lives. Businesses currently invest thousands of dollars in mentoring programs. Our program provides similar benefits to NAWBO members. Research has found that the quickest way to achieve your goals is by having a single dedicated person help you along the way. The mentoring program will allow you to partner with someone who wishes guidance to identify her goals and help her attain her personal and professional objectives. You and your mentee do not necessarily have to be in the same profession. Mentors only need to possess skills in the areas where you want to grow and more importantly have similar values to her mentee. The Mentoring Program is not designed to help you make new business contacts, although this may be a by-product of the program. Mentoring is about someone’s personal and professional development. As a mentor, you will grow and share your knowledge and expertise with someone who wants to learn. As a mentee you will gain valuable experience from someone who has been on this path before you.
When you apply to the program you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire which will help us to match you. Please be honest in your answers since this is the only way the program will work. The information that you give us here will be kept confidential and will be shared with no one but the Mentoring Committee. Below we have given you an overview of the role of a Mentor and becoming an effective Mentee so that you can better understand the program. continued below...
2010 Program Timeline/Schedule of Events
The items
marked in red are mandatory that each mentee/mentor must attend or complete.
See below for time commitments
for this program.
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Jan 8: Email reminder to membership regarding program, if space is still available
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Feb 1: Application process closed for Mentees
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Feb 11: Committee to meet to match Mentors/Mentees.
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Feb 17: Mentees contacted if they have been chosen.
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Mar 12: Orientation/luncheon 9–11:30am: Training session. 12–1pm: Lunch at Summit House in Fullerton.
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May 13: Mentors-only meeting. What's working, what's not? Best practices for Mentors. Networking. 5:30pm
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S.O.M.E. Meetings: Sessions Organized for Mentoring Education. Prior to NAWBO regular meetings - open to Mentees and Mentors. Dates: APRIL 6, JUNE 1, SEPT 14 all at 4:30pm prior to NAWBO meeting.
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June 17: Mid-Year Program workshop – Education session and review of program - dinner and networking. Mandatory for Mentees. Optional for Mentors
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Nov 11: All Mentors/Mentees wrap up meeting with survey results. Last formal meeting for this group. Best practices and Presentation to Mentors. Dinner and networking. Mandatory for Mentees. Optional for Mentors.
TIME COMMITMENTS: EACH MENTOR/MENTEE GROUP must commit to meet 2-3 HOURS EACH MONTH AND MUST ATTEND THE TRAINING SESSION on March 12. MENTEES MUST ATTEND THE MID-YEAR AND YEAR END MEETINGS AS WELL. For questions please contact Dee Elliott, Mentoring Founder/Director at 714-813-7190.
Note: Copyright of this Mentoring program is by Dee Elliott. Program or any parts thereof are not to be copied or used by anyone without her written permission.
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The mentoring program has been an invaluable asset to me as a start-up business owner. My mentor was a perfect match, tailored the program to meet my current needs and challenges and has helped me gain the perspective to work 'on' my business rather than 'in' my business. The program has broadened my horizon and I am now able to strategically focus on the financial, operational and sales & marketing aspects which previously were hard to balance and manage. I see a bright future for my business and now have short- and long-term actionable goals that are well balanced between my role as a business owner and as an individual. I would highly recommend the mentoring program to any business woman, no matter how young or mature their business might be.
Being a part of the mentoring program has had a big impact on my business. My mentor has guided me in the implementation of actions I've been wanting to take for years but didn't how to begin. I am able to focus on the growth of my company because I now have a foundation in place that will enable me to move forward. The skills and confidence I've gained from my mentor and by participating in the program are invaluable and I can't thank the mentoring team enough for the opportunity.-
Communicator
Mentees respond best to mentors who listen well, ask open-ended questions, and establish an environment for open interaction. A successful partnership is characterized by a two-way exchange of information, with mentors sharing examples based on their successes and failures and providing honest and candid feedback. -
Guide
The best mentors become guides who help mentees plan their own journey of discovery. Because most mentors are natural problem-solvers, they must curb their tendency to tell rather than coach. Mentors can point to opportunities and pitfalls but they should not make the mentees decisions. Mentees learn most from mentors who present a variety of options, allowing the mentees to work through the analysis and make the final decision. -
Ally
An honest ally is essential in the mentee/mentor partnership. As an ally, the mentor should be able to appraise behaviors and demonstrate how others may perceive them. Because the mentoring partnership is built on trust, confidence, and commitment, mentees can receive honest feedback about their strengths and weaknesses – feedback that few people have the opportunity to receive. The mentor also serves as a sounding board, providing a risk-free environment for those who want to vent frustrations, share difficulties, and seek other perspectives. -
Catalyst
A catalyst is the outside force that inspires action. Mentors can help their mentees look at unanticipated possibilities and not just concentrate on what they expect to happen.
Becoming an effective
Mentee:
The power of mentoring has been recognized throughout
the ages. Your membership in NAWBO allows you to take advantage
of this unique and rewarding mentoring experience.
Through our research, we have observed the behaviors that lead to the most effective and productive partnerships. What we have learned is that the best partnerships occur when mentees:
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Respect the commitment being made by their partner.
This respect manifests itself by being prepared and on time for meetings, following through on action items, and acknowledging the mentor’s dedication and support. -
Participate fully in the program.
Commitment to the program and your peers is essential if you are to reap the benefits of your mentoring experience. For example, attending monthly meetings and building networking and support relationships with your peers show your commitment. -
Assume responsibility for the partnership.
The responsibility for managing the mentoring partnership clearly belongs to the mentee. The best mentoring experiences occur when mentees take ownership for their growth, invest in the partnership, and create a vision for their journey of discovery. Where mentees lead, mentors will follow; mentees should select the destination and make the journey memorable. -
Be open to new ideas.
The purpose of the mentoring experience is to open mentees to new possibilities and perspectives. The best mentees are willing to consider new ideas and recognize that growth can sometimes be uncomfortable; they come to the program wanting to learn and not expecting to be taught. -
Make honest communication a priority.
Communication is key to the success of the partnership. Mentees have responsibility for accepting and encouraging honest feedback from their mentors and for providing the same kind of feedback to their partners. Mentors, like mentees, want to know how they’re doing.
"LOOK AT YOURSELF THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S EYES"
NAWBO OC does not guarantee a mentee or mentor spot for everyone who applies and reserves the right to match those best suited for the program. Mentor and mentee applications can be obtained by contacting the NAWBO-OC office.
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WOW…what can I say but WOW. The mentoring program has been one of the most incredible personal development programs I have participated in. Through a careful selection and matching process the NAWBO mentoring committee found a perfect match for me. My mentor is an accomplished business woman with great experience to draw on to help me "recreate my business". She has helped me clarify my goals, map out a course of action to reach those goals and most importantly has kept me focused and moving forward to that end. I am so excited by the progress we have made and am already experiencing the results of our efforts. I am even more proud of my business today and the possibilities for the future. I would highly recommend this mentoring program and applaud NAWBO for offering such a valuable program to the members.
How the Mentoring Committee came to pair me with my perfect match - I don't know - but I am grateful they did! My mentor is a wise and loyal advisor. She listens and understands those issues that want to "get in the way" of forward progress. Rather than allowing me to define myself in negative terms "I'm no good at sales" she gently guided me into looking at "sales" from a different perspective. I was telling myself I couldn't and therefore wouldn't "ask" for business. My mentor helped me realize "sales" is not asking for anything. "Sales" is listening to what someone else needs - and providing that service to them. If it had not been for my mentor helping me re-define the word "sales" and all the negative words and emotions I had swirling around it - I probably would never say "I am good at sales" - I help others with what they need! Thank you to my dear mentor and NAWBO-OC for making this program available to her members. And yes, sales are increasing!
Creating Successful Mentoring Programs
by Vicki Torres of NAWBO-LA
For chapters considering a mentoring program, the Orange County chapter
could serve as a model...
Dee Putman-Elliott, of Executive Moving Systems, chaired the committee
that created the eight-month-long program in Orange County. It drew
interest from existing members and from four women business owners
who joined the chapter specifically because of the program, she said.
Keys to a successful program, Putman-Elliott said, are:
• Thorough preparation and research on mentoring.
• Training and testing of both mentors and mentees.
• Establishment of a formal program with a beginning and an end.
• A committee to oversee the endeavor, make any needed adjustments,
and evaluate results.
Putman-Elliott had previously created mentoring programs for other
organizations and had gathered extensive research, plus information
from professional mentoring services. She knew that mentoring partners
must be paired according to shared values to ensure the greatest
success of the match, and the OC program included professional values
tests. "Values are more important than being in the same industry," she
said.
A March training session provided 14 participants (7 mentoring
partnerships), with the basics about their roles. The mentees were
told not to expect a "fix" for an ailing company. The mentors
were told not to "run" their mentees' companies. The emphasis
was on guidance, assistance and communication. All participants signed
a waiver of liability for the chapter.
The participants met for 2 to 3 hours in person monthly, with phone
calls or emails in between. The program officially ended with another
group meeting and final evaluation.
Putman-Elliott stressed that a formal structure and operations, not
just a casual list of volunteer mentors, is crucial to providing
real value. "Overall, it was highly successful," Putman-Elliott
said of the effort. "A couple of partners developed such a close
relationship that they will continue as friends and other mentees
decided to hire their mentors afterward as coaches."
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The information presented on this website is intended to be accurate and authoritative information on the subject matter covered, and is distributed with the understanding that NAWBO and its members are not rendering professional advice and assume no liability whatsoever in connection with its use. Information provided about events is not an implied endorsement of any business, product or service, and NAWBO is not responsible for any loss or injury resulting from initiating contact with persons or businesses associated with these events.
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