Mentee Guidelines:

1. Have clearly defined goals for yourself and communicate them to your Mentor and VP Education so they can help you more effectively.
2. Set aside a specific, consistent "Toastmasters Time" (1 - 2 hours) every week to prepare for your next meeting roles and speeches.
3. Discuss any questions, concerns and challenges with your Mentor. Example: coming up with speech topics, how to fulfill roles, etc.
4. Strive to achieve your CC (Competent Communicator Award) and your CL (Competent Leader Award) within 12 months, i.e. about a speech per month.
5. Study the back of your Communication and Leadership Program manuals. Read your monthly"Toastmaster" magazine for great ideas, tips, strategies and inspiration. Review the 3 handbooks: "Gestures: Your Body Speaks", "Your Speaking Voice" and "Effective Speech Evaluation" - monthly.
6. Always be working on your next speech. Don't wait until the last minute. Begin as soon as you see your name on the schedule, and right after your last speech. Contact your Mentor every week, just to let them know how things are going.
7. Always communicate with your speech evaluator and Mentor before speeches to discuss project objectives, and other issues you are working to improve.
8. Put the feedback you receive from evaluations and your Mentor to use immediately. Talk with them after to get more detail and insight. Write down how you will incorporate it into your next speech right away and start working on your next project ASAP. Visualize and believe in the results you want to achieve.
9. Take notes at every meeting: specific feedback you receive; feedback that others receive that you can use; General Evaluator comments about how to perform roles better/properly; Education Session content; etc.
10. Adopt a professional work ethic to your "Toastmaster career." If you are serious about developing and mastering effective communication and leadership skills, then your attitude and actions should reflect that. Honouring "A Toastmaster's Promise" is a great place to start.
11. Dress appropriately when delivering manual speeches - as if it were a real presentation to a paying audience. You will get out of this process what you put into it.
12. Have Fun! You're doing a really wonderful, affirmative, life changing thing for yourself, and contributing to the growth of your fellow members. The time you put into your personal development is the best investment you'll ever make. Don't look at it as a job, but as a creative adventure. Enjoy the process!

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