Peer to Peer Coaching

Toastmasters District 5 Peer to Peer Development Overview

The District 5 Peer to Peer Development program supports clubs interested in building

membership, retaining members, and developing member communication and leadership skills over the long term through member peer to peer coaching and mentoring within and across clubs. This program helps clubs that do not have a coaching program implement one with structure, training, and district support of the member retention team.

This program is patterned after the very successful peer to peer coaching program in Voyagers (Club 5315) over the past several years. Each club has a coaching coordinator-either the VP Membership, a separate Coaching Coordinator, or VP Education. The club coaching coordinator assigns a coach to new members and keeps in touch with coaches and their coachees. The assigned coach helps new members integrate into the club, learn the club culture, counsel new members on how to fulfill assignments, and quickly have successful Toastmaster experiences.

The District 5 Member Retention team: This team, under direction of the Member Retention Chair, connects with clubs that have expressed interest in implementing a coaching program. Member Retention members help coaching coordinators organize their coaching program and promote the program in the club. They keep in contact with their clubs, answer questions about the program, and help club coordinators keep their coaching programs on track.

Steps in setting up a club Peer to Peer Development Program:
1. Assign a coaching coordinator

2. Find people in the club or from "buddy clubs" who want to be coaches

3. Support coaches with tools, resources, encouragement, and acknowledgment
(see attached lists)

4. Promote coaching and the coaching program in the club

a. Constantly explain the program and the expectations (a good time to do this is at

the end of meetings with a quick announcement)

b. Regularly give a presentation on coaching (every 6 months or so)

5. Set expectations for coaches and new members (see attached lists)

6. Assign every new member a coach-quickly

7. Follow up and check up on coaches and new members. Ask:

a. Have you met and discussed goals?

b. Do you have what you need?

c. Is your first speech scheduled?

For more information, contact David Carroll, LGM, or Jerry Marino, Membership Retention Chair.

District 5 Mission
The Mission of the District is to enhance the performance and extend the network of Clubs, thereby offering greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from the Toastmasters educational program, by:

• Focusing on the critical success factors as specified by the District educational and membership goals.
• Ensuring that each Club effectively fulfills its responsibilities to its individual members.
• Providing effective training and leadership development opportunities for Club and District Officers.