Become a volunteerI qualified as a Brownie leader on my 18th birthday and ended up taking on the role of Unit Leader a couple of years later at the age of 20. I’m the sort of person who loves a challenge and thrives on being busy, so I soon completed my Going Away With License and then did my Queen’s Guide Award. After that, I started thinking about what to do next – what else could I do to further my journey with Girlguiding?
In 2016, the answer arrived in an email from my District Commissioner. The District team were looking for new Leadership Mentors. My initial reaction was “I’m not old enough, I’m not experienced enough, they won’t take me seriously.” Then I took a breath and thought “Why not?” I’d been a qualified leader myself for 8 years by this point and had rebuilt my unit from 8 girls when I took over to a thriving unit of 32 Brownies. I knew what I was doing and had a wealth of experience to share.
With more than a few nerves, I emailed my Commissioner back and offered to take on the role. Later that evening, I got an email back, telling me that she was pleased I had volunteered and would be great – what a relief!
A few weeks later, with a new notebook tucked under my arm, I went along to meet my first mentee. After some initial nerves, we started chatting and I soon found myself sharing tips and advice about how to complete each clause of the qualification. We had regular catch-ups, with me usually visiting her at her unit. The sense of achievement I felt when I signed off her completed Leadership Qualification book was huge. Even better is getting to catch up with her at District events, seeing what a great leader she has become.
I have since supported 3 others with their Leadership Qualification. 2 of them completed the qualification, but the 3rd quit before she really got started. At first, that felt like I had failed as a mentor, but I soon realised volunteering isn’t for everyone and her quitting wasn’t a reflection on me.
Being a Leadership mentor is so rewarding and I really believe that it is a role that more 18-30’s should explore. We have a wealth of experience to share and are not yet stuck in our ways, so are open to hearing new ideas and new ways of doing things. The next generation of leaders would be lucky to have the benefit of this, so why not give it a go?
Tips for being a Leadership mentor:
- Talk to your local commissioner about getting started.
- Don’t overthink it. You have skills and knowledge to share – Just go for it!
- Be organised. Keep track of what your mentee has done and what still needs doing.
- Be open to new ideas. Your role is to offer support and guidance, not dictate what should be done. Your mentee might have their own ideas about how to complete each clause and you might even be able to borrow some of their ideas for your own unit.
- Don’t take it personally if a mentee doesn’t complete the qualification. You are there to support her, but at the end of the day, whether she qualifies or not is down to her.
- Have fun! Mentoring is a great way to get to know people and build contacts within the Guiding community, so enjoy it!
