Joining a new committee can be daunting, especially for someone who has never participated in committee work before. But it doesn’t have to be! The College believes that everyone appointed to a committee has something to contribute, whether they are a long-standing member or someone who is still in training. Establishing mentorship opportunities not only helps to build confidence for individual members, but it also creates a sense of camaraderie and ultimately leads to a more engaged and productive committee.
Here are some ways committee leaders can effectively incorporate mentorship into the committee’s work:
- Establish a mentorship framework. When assigning members to workgroups for specific projects, don’t limit participation to only your top experts on the topic. If your committee is reviewing a new guideline, for example, ask one of your new members to take the lead and pair them with another member who has more expertise in this area. This provides incoming members with a clear support system and gives them a foundation to succeed.
- Encourage leadership development. Encourage members who are returning for their second term on the committee to serve as mentors to incoming members. Mentors can model effective leadership and offer guidance to help new members grow. When it’s time to nominate someone for the vice chair position, consider those who have stepped up to mentor others and demonstrated their leadership potential.
- Promote collaboration. Foster teamwork by encouraging active participation in decision-making. Prioritize open communication between mentors and mentees to build trust and strengthen collaboration within the committee.
- Recognize success. Celebrate and recognize the effective mentorship efforts. You can acknowledge the work during a meeting, award successful mentor-mentee pairs, or share the success stories with the College to be spotlighted in the Committee Insider newsletter. Showing appreciation reinforces the value of mentorship and encourages participation.
Over time, mentors can rotate roles to allow for diverse perspectives and expand collaborative networks. Mentorship is a powerful tool for developing future leaders and ensuring that committees succeed. These tips will help new members feel supported as they transition from learning to leading and assist in maintaining the committee’s charge.
Looking for more ways to boost engagement on your committee? Explore our other articles for more tips and insights!