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WORKING WITH CHURCH

LEADERS & LDS MENTORS

Discussion GroupOctober 3, 2013

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LDS MENTORS, UK

Key Contacts

Hyde Park, Reading, St Albans, Watford StakesBriefing DocumentMonday 30th September 2013

LDS Mentors

“Each of us, from time to time, is mentored and has chances to mentor. In my experience, truthful and caring one-liners that occur within such nurturing relationships have a long shelf life! You can probably recount three or four examples of how people have said something—probably a sentence or clause—and you remember it still. It moves and touches you still.”

Elder Neal A. MaxwellJesus, the Perfect Mentor Ensign, Feb. 2001, 8.

LDS Mentors Overview

An apostolic prospective

AgendaLDS Mentors Overview

Our mission and the sacred nature of working with our young people

Initiative progress Lessons learned

“…you should study and prepare for your life’s work in a field that you enjoy, because you are going to spend a good share of your life in that field. It should be one which will challenge your intellect and which will make maximum utilization of your talents and your capabilities. Finally, it should be a field that will supply sufficient remuneration to provide adequately for your companion and your children. Now that’s a big order. But I bear testimony that these criteria are very important in choosing your life’s work. “President Thomas S. Monson CES Fireside for Young Adults: Life’s Greatest Decisions, 7 September 2003

LDS Mentors Overview

A Prophet’s challenge to our young people..and thus the leadership

“Brethren, there is no organization better able to respond to the challenges of humanity than the priesthood of the Most High God. We have the organization. Stake presidents, bishops, elders quorum presidents, and high priests group leaders—we now call upon you to mobilize our priesthood quorums in response to the employment and financial challenges facing our members.”

Bishop Richard C. Edgley, Conference Report: “This Is Your Phone Call”, Apr. 2009

LDS Mentors Overview

A call to action

Our mission is to provide mentoring and career insight to those who are seeking help in exploring their career and educational options, with specific emphasis on returned missionaries and Young Single Adult members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The LDS Mentoring Initiative aims to: Bring experienced professionals into contact with young people at the outset of

their professional and educational development. Promote education and career advancement amongst LDS Young Single Adults

through a Mentor connection. Bring experienced professionals into contact with others where required at

significantly crucial points in their professional and educational development. Provide a national resource available to individuals, families, Priesthood leaders

and LDS Employment Services.

LDS Mentors Overview

Our Mission

Achievements to date 150 LDS professional recruited across the 4 stakes, the vast majority of which have

signed up to the LDS Mentors LinkedIn group In stake awareness training give to mentors 86 mentors attended a mid-week Launch Event LDS Mentors website has been launched, with secure access to Mentor data Pilots undertaken in each of the stake and lesson learned compiled

Next steps Meet with Employment Services missionary couple to align upfront activities (see

lessons learned Launch Service in October 2013 Expand geographic scope

LDS Mentors Overview

Initiative progress

Many of our young people just do not know what to do as a career Many of our young people do not know how to discover their options Therefore more use of career workshops provide by Employment Services needs to

be made A young person may need to speak to several mentors to understand their

possibilities The mentor concept is alien to many Many do not know how to exploit the opportunity of a mentoring relationship Many lack confidence and the skills to promote themselves

LDS Mentors Overview

Lessons learned from pilot

“Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). “Ye are my friends” (D&C 84:63 “Greater love hath no man than

this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)

“Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28)

“Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands” (D&C 121:9)

LDS Mentors Overview

Our Exemplar in mentoring

Back up slidesLDS Mentors Overview

...is very simple.... A need is recognised...by the future

mentee or a trusted advisor (parent, Priesthood leader, other)

The Stake LDS Mentors Co-ordinator is approached

A mentor is identified (firstly within a stake and then beyond where there is a need)

The mentor is approached and if he/she is willing to take on the mentee then the mentee is encouraged to make contact with the mentor

...and that is where the fun starts...

LDS Mentors Overview

The process for connecting the mentor and mentee…

Necessarily finding the mentor a job Take on the ownership and responsibility for

the Mentees career, decisions or life Prejudging the viability of a Mentees ideas Adopt a judgemental attitude Creating false expectations Doing most of the talking Thinking as Mentor we know everything

LDS Mentors Overview

What does being an LDS mentor NOT entail?

LDS Mentors Overview

What does being an LDS mentor entail?

LDS Mentoring should lead a Mentor and a Mentee to partner and engage in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Through structured conversations the mentor should help the mentee to become more aware of what they want and why they want it, define some goals and action plans, and then check progress along the way, while overcoming obstacles as they arise.

The mentor may also provide some industry and/or role related input along the way.

A Definition

Make a realistic time commitment and method for contact with the Mentee

Encourage the Mentee to express and discuss their ideas, concerns and understanding of the career choices facing them.

Share with them appropriate insight and guidance. Refer Mentees to other sources of information or

further support. Help Mentees to set realistic and practical goals

and plans for how to achieve those goals. Review their progress during subsequent calls or meetings.

Encourage Mentees to take responsibility for their own decisions, plans and actions.

Provide encouragement and support

LDS Mentors Overview

What does being an LDS mentor entail?

LDS Mentors Overview

Walking the line

Bringing the key skills together of Rapport…Listening…Questioning

SYMPATHY • Attached• Absorbed• Shared journey• Immersed in shared problem• Can’t feed back - “I don’t

want to upset them”• Carry the Mentee• No plan for future• Coach and client both stuck

OBJECTIVITY• Detached• Outsider

• Separate journey• Not “my” problem

• Harsh feed back – “I told him what his problem is”

• “Here’s my advice”• Drive the Mentee

• Client feels stuck, coach feels “so what?”

This is the domain of LDS Mentors.

This is where we can add value.

This is where CHOICE exists.

This where the Spiritresides & gives

guidance

A connection continuum.

Careers• What is it like to work in this industry?• What education do I need?• How much will I earn?• What will is take to be a success?

Presentation skills• Personal presentation• Project my best self

Building personal strengths Confidence Leadership behaviours Working relationships/networks Work life balance Stress management

LDS Mentors Overview

What are appropriate subjects for mentoring conversations?

Hope Fortitude Creativity Direction Inspiration Grounding Confidence Perseverance Sight and commitment to the big picture A plan

LDS Mentors Overview

Leading to…

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WORKING WITH CHURCH

LEADERSKey Contacts

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KEY CONTACTS Stake President LDS Employment Public Affairs

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STAKE PRESIDENTS Welfare/Employment

Bishops, EQ Presidents, HP Group Leaders Public Affairs

Opinion LeadersBuilding Bridges of Understanding

Leadership TrainingBring church principles and business

together

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LDS EMPLOYMENT Broad Network Connection with Bishops Training Resources Employment Opportunities Executive Committee Involvement Joint Sponsorship

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LDS EMPLOYMENT Tied to Bishops Broad Network Training Resources Joint Sponsorship

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS Connect Church Leaders with Opinion

Leaders Build Bridges of Understanding with

Communities and their LeadersPolitical, Business, Education

Organization:StakeRegionStateChurch-Wide

Programs and EventsEvent MessageMormon Helping Hands The Church Serves its

CommunityPerformance Breakthrough Conference

The Church addresses Relevant Issues

Blood Drives The Church is a Compassionate Contributor

Veteran’s Christmas Boxes The Church Honors our Nation’s Heroes

Let Us Sing Thanksgiving The Church is Friendly with Neighboring Faiths

Follow the Star The LDS People are Christian