By: Gillian Sheldon, DTM, Scott Schafer, Jeannette Kreher Heberling, DTM
Every Toastmaster has a story — and behind many of those stories, you’ll find a mentor. Mentorship is one of the foundations of the Toastmasters experience. Whether you’re helping a new member find their voice or guiding a new club toward success, mentorship strengthens both the mentee and the mentor.
In Toastmasters, we have two powerful mentorship paths:
- The Club Mentor Program, which supports new clubs.
- The Member Mentorship Program, which supports individual members.
Both create opportunities to develop leadership, connection, and growth.
The Club Mentor Program: Building Leadership through Service
A Club Mentor is appointed by the District to support a newly chartered club for its first six months to a year. Think of it as building a strong foundational excellence for the club to succeed.
What a Club Mentor Does:
- Guides club officers in conducting exciting meetings to grow and retain members.
- Encourages participation in Pathways and club meeting roles.
- Models Toastmasters best practices and the club mission.
- Helps develop a club culture of excellence and inclusivity.
- Creates bench strength for future leadership roles.
Leadership Skills You’ll Develop as a Club Mentor:
- Strategic Thinking: Understanding club operations, building cohesive teams, and growth dynamics.
- Coaching and Facilitation: Helping officers lead through understanding roles, Moments of Truth, and members thrive to reach their “why” and retain their membership and enthusiasm.
- Team Building: Creating synergy among diverse personalities and skill sets. Setting foundational excellence.
- Emotional Intelligence: Navigating challenges with empathy and understanding each members motivation.
Being a Club Mentor isn’t just about helping others — it’s a leadership laboratory. You learn how to motivate, delegate, and sustain engagement over time.
The Member Mentorship Program: Growing Leaders, One Member at a Time
A Club Member Mentor supports a new member’s first few months in Toastmasters, helping them navigate signing up for Pathways, logging into the agenda and delivering their first speech.
What a Member Mentor Does:
- Introduces the mentee to meeting roles and Toastmasters structure.
- Guides them in choosing and starting their Pathway.
- Provides feedback and encouragement after speeches.
- Helps the mentee set personal goals and stay accountable by moving through Pathways.
Leadership Skills You’ll Develop as a Member Mentor:
- Active Listening & Communication: Understanding others’ goals and challenges and supporting the new member.
- Empowerment: Encouraging growth and celebrating milestones 1-on-1 and within the club.
- Coaching Mindset: Guiding through questions, not answers.
- Influence & Motivation: Inspiring engagement, confidence, and connection.
Mentoring a member deepens your leadership through service — it transforms your experience from “me” to “we.”