|
 Helping
new members brings unexpected rewards.
幫助新會友，帶來意想不到的收穫
“My mentor helped me so much.”
“It was great to go through my speech with my mentor.”
「我的指導會友給我很大的幫助。」
「很高興有指導會友和我一起完成這次的演講。」
I have often heard
statements like these in my Toastmasters club. When you are new to our
organization, it’s great to have a guide. The benefits can be
immeasurable: A good mentor can help a new member organize a speech,
fulfill objectives for a project and assist in reducing distracting
mannerisms, such as verbal crutches and ineffective body language.
類似這樣的言論，在我的演講會中時有所聞。當新會員剛加入我們的組織，有人從旁指導，絕對大有幫助，且得到的好處是無法衡量的：一個稱職的指導會友，能夠協助新會員，根據各項課題的需求，落實每一個演說的目標；而且能減少雜亂無章的習性，像是贅字或是無意義的肢體動作等。
However, as someone who has been a Toastmaster since 1987 and has
coached many members, I can assure you that there are benefits to being
a mentor as well. Let’s look at the advantages of performing this
important and rewarding role.
自從1987年加入演講會至今，也指導過許許多多的會友，我可以保證，當一個指導會友可是受益無窮。讓我們來算一算，扮演這樣一個重要的角色，可以獲得多少好處。
Racking up Rewards
獲益良多
First of all,
when you are assigned a mentee who is serious about improving, it is
satisfying to watch this person progress. An enthusiastic Toastmaster
who is eager to learn is a mentor’s dream. On some occasions in my club,
I think I have been more excited than the speaker when listening to a
presentation where I helped the speaker improve.
首先，當接受擔任指導會友，被指導的新會友，其本身就是一個渴望成長的人，你會很欣慰看著他/她的進步。一個渴望學習的演講會員，是每個指導會友的夢想。好幾次在我的分會，我可是比演講者更興奮，滿心期待，要聆聽那些因為我的幫助，而更加完美的演說。
For example, I recall two instances in which I listened to someone’s Ice
Breaker in a practice session and was able to offer valuable tips.
Factually and logically the speeches were great, but they lacked a
grabber – something to pull the audience in at the start. In each
speech, the perfect opening was hidden – a rhetorical question in one
and a humorous personal statement in the other. I made a note of this
and commented at the end of each: “You know that statement about XYZ?
That’s your opening.” We rearranged the speeches accordingly. I couldn’t
wait to hear these speeches at the club meeting to see how the new
openings worked.
我記得二個例子，有位新會員發表「初試啼聲」單元，還在練習的階段，我在聽完後，給了他一些建議。這位演講者的真實性和邏輯都不錯，但是少了一點吸引力，無法在演講一開始，就攫取觀眾的注意。他們的問題在於，精采的開頭，都沒被突顯出來：其中一個可以改善修辭技巧的提問，另一個可以運用自己的幽默故事。我做了筆記，也提供他們建議：「你知道嗎？你的某某句子，就是最好的開頭。」我們重新安排了講稿內容後，在例會中，我等不及要看看這樣的開頭，是否發揮預期的效果。
On another occasion, I was helping a young lady with a project. In her
speech, she had a fairly long personal story that was amusing and also
made a point. She was reading it from notes. After I had heard the
entire speech, I said: “That’s a personal story. I know you’ve told that
story many times. If you were out with a group of friends and you were
relating that story, would you need notes?” The obvious answer was no. I
told her to throw the notes away and imagine telling the story in a more
casual setting. She did and it worked wonderfully. It was rewarding to
see the results of my coaching efforts at the Toastmasters meeting.
另一個例子，是我協助一位年輕小姐，準備一個專題演講。對於這個演說，她已經有了一個引人入勝、真人真事的長篇故事；但，卻是照著稿子唸。聽完整個演講後，我對她說：「這是妳的親身經歷，我相信，妳已經講過這個故事無數次了。如果是和一群朋友出遊時，妳分享這個故事，還需要看稿子嗎？」答案顯然很清楚。我建議她丟掉稿子，用一種輕鬆的方式，來說這個故事。她聽進去了，而且表現優異。能夠看到自己指導的成果，無異是例會上最好的回饋。
A particular joy in being a mentor is that we can enhance people’s
self-confidence by pointing out strengths they didn’t realize they had.
This can be a confidence-booster for both the mentor and the mentee with
a wonderful principle of reciprocity at play here: By boosting another’s
self-esteem, we boost our own.
發掘他人不自知的潛力，藉此增強其自信心，是指導會友另一種特別的樂趣。對於指導和被指導會友來說，這樣的過程猶如信心增強劑，是一項很棒的互惠原則。藉由增強他人自信的同時，我們的自信也增強了。
Yet another advantage of mentoring is that it allows me to reminisce
about my own Toastmasters experience. When I am helping someone with a
body language project from the basic manual, for example, I think back
to when I did this project. I sometimes dig out my old manual. I reflect
on my speech topic and the person that evaluated me. I also remember
what I did well and the areas where I could have improved. This causes
me to give better direction to the person I’m working with.
指導的另一個好處是，我又回憶起自己在演講會的種種經驗。例如，當我協助某人，完成基礎手冊中關於肢體語言的課題，我也想起當初自己在做同樣課題的情形。有時我會找出塵封已久的舊手冊，回想我的演講題目，以及給我講評的人。同時想起表現精采的部份，和有待改進的地方。這有助於我提供他人較好的指導。
The process of mentoring has also made me a better evaluator. I am known
in my club as the person who tells it like it is, and I often get
requests from members to evaluate them. When you are an experienced
mentor, you look at speeches differently, always seeking ways to enhance
a person’s strengths. I do this when I am observing world leaders and
politicians, too. In addition, I know my performance in Toastmasters’
annual Evaluation Speech Contest has improved as a result of being a
mentor.
指導的過程，也讓我成為較佳的講評人。在我的分會，我被公認是一個「據實以告」的人，因此，經常被會員請求為他們講評。一個有經驗的指導會友，看待演說的角度會有所不同，總是要找出可以讓人更好的方法。我也用同樣的方式，觀察世界級的領導人或是政治家。同時我相信，當過指導會友的經驗，讓我在演講會年度舉辦的講評比賽中，有較佳的表現。
Reaping Dividends
額外紅利
Being a mentor has improved my life in numerous unexpected ways. Here
are a few:
生活中一些意想不到的事，都因為當指導會友而改善。例如：
• I learn new things.
學到更多新鮮事
Sometimes I think I learn more than the
member I am helping. On occasion a mentee will ask me a question for
which I have to look up the answer. I will consult course notes or books
from years ago. Occasionally I treat myself to a new book on public
speaking as a result. This keeps me knowledgeable and current on the
topic.
有時我覺得，我所得到的，甚至比受指導的會友還要多。偶爾在指導時，因為要回答會友的提問，我會翻出多年前的筆記、書本、或是參考關於公開演說的新書。讓我保有在這個議題上的認知和最新資訊。
• I laugh more.
笑得更多
Since my speaking style tends to be on the
humorous side, I am often asked to add humor to a presentation. This
keeps me thinking along these lines and helps me to be more creative.
我的演說傾向於幽默方式，因此在指導他人的演講時，常常被要求加入一些幽默感。自然而然地，我會朝這個方向去思考，也就更具有創造力了。
• It’s music to my ears.
教學相長
I recently began helping two friends with the guitar, one of whom is a
Toastmaster. Because they have asked me questions about chord structure
and picking techniques, I have been reviewing old theory books that
hadn’t been cracked open in years. In order to share this information,
I’m relearning it all. As my dad, a musician, used to say, “There’s
nothing more educational than teaching.”
最近我指導二位朋友學吉他，其中一位是演講會會員。他們問了一些關於和弦，和彈奏技巧的問題，我只得重新學習那些多年以來，都不曾學過的理論。我的音樂家老爹，以前常掛在嘴邊：「學，然後知不足；教，然後知困。」
• It might be a business.
可以成為事業
Many Toastmasters, myself included,
have become professional speech coaches or seminar leaders on the topic
of effective presentations. This has resulted in travel and financial
gain. I also write humorous speeches for clients or add humor to their
existing presentations.
包括我在內的許多演講會會員，都是在關於「有效表達」這個題目上，變成專業演講教練，或是研討會的領導人。藉此也多了旅遊的機會，和經濟上的收益。我也為客戶的幽默演講捉刀，或是增加他們演講內容的幽默感。
• I have a great social life.
豐富的社交生活
I have been invited to people’s
homes on many occasions as a result of helping them with a speech.
Long-lasting friendships can occur. One of my mentees from 16 years ago
is still a good friend. He has moved to another city, but we still keep
in touch and visit each other from time to time.
常常有人在接受指導後，邀請我去他家作客。也發展出不少長期的友誼。其中一個已經是16年的好友了。雖然他後來搬到其他城鎮，我們依舊保持聯絡，也經常互相拜訪。
• Networking! Mentoring has put me on the map.
網絡！指導他人，拓展人脈
One of the women I
mentored recommended my business to her supervisor. This company is now
one of my clients.
一位我曾經指導過的女性，向她的主管推薦我的業務。這家公司現在是我的客戶。
Enjoying the Process
樂在其中
A good friend,
also a longtime Toastmaster, and I have developed what we call a
“consenting mentoring relationship.” When either one of us is preparing
any kind of a presentation, we get together and do the mentor/mentee
roles. This is over and above club assignments. Because we know each
other really well, we are allowed to be completely honest. This has
helped both of us immensely; we park our egos at the door and put the
goal of a good presentation first.
我和一個演講會的好友，發展出一種「自願指導關係」。每當要準備任何形式的演說時，我們會聚在一起，扮演「指導/被指導」的角色。這已經遠遠超越演講會的要求了。也因為我們熟知彼此，所以才能坦然以對。這個模式對我們的幫助之大，無以復加；我們會放下成見，一切以演說為先。
Other
longtime Toastmasters have had similar mentoring experiences. Judy Suke,
DTM, of First Waterdown Toastmasters in Waterdown, Ontario, Canada,
finds that she benefits as much as the mentee, if not more, from the
process: “Many times I have received a huge hug and heard the words,
‘You changed my life.’ The warmth just spread through me.” Don Rode,
ATMS, CL, of Garden City Toastmasters in St. Catharines, Ontario, says,
“I am always pleased and very proud when the student surpasses the
teacher! One of the ladies I mentored went on to leadership roles and
contest wins within our area. Now, as a professional speaker, she is
encouraging me to go where she has gone. I will be very happy to now
learn from her.”
許多資深的演講會會員，也有類似的指導經驗。加拿大安大略省Waterdown市，First
Waterdown演講會傑出會員Judy
Suke表示，指導過程中，她的收穫絕對多過於被指導會友：「許多次，我被緊緊擁抱，他們對我說：『我的生命因為妳而改變』；這樣的話語，總是讓我全身暖洋洋的。」另一位安大略省St.
Catharines市，Garden
City演講會會員Don
Rode, ATMS, CL說道：「當學生青出於藍時，總是讓我既驕傲又高興。一位我曾指導過的女性，晉升到領導階層，也在分區比賽中奪冠。她現在是一位專業演說家，一直鼓勵我跟隨她的腳步。我很高興現在可以向她學習。」
I offer just one caveat: Unless you are an experienced public speaker
when you join Toastmasters, do not start mentoring too soon. I recommend
that you complete at least the Competent Communication manual or
give several evaluations before serving as mentor. Jumping in and trying
to mentor someone before you are ready can leave the mentee with a bad
feeling about the process. A good way to avoid this situation is to have
an experienced Toastmaster in your club assign experienced mentors to
new Toastmasters.
我必須強調；除非你在加入演講會前，就是一個有經驗的演說者，否則不要太早去當指導會友。我的建議是，最好完成中級溝通手冊，以及做過幾次的講評人後，再擔任指導會友。如果勉為其難，可能會適得其反，造成被指導會友的反感。避免這種情況的最好方法是，由分會內有經驗的會員，為新會員指派適任的指導會友。
Mentoring – like forgiveness – is often a selfish act. It can benefit
the giver more than the receiver. I urge you to get involved in this
rewarding and enjoyable experience. Happy mentoring!
指導，正如原諒，常常是一種自私的行為。通常施比受獲益更多。我鼓勵大家投入這個有趣又有益的志業，享受指導的樂趣。
Bob Armstrong, DTM, is a member of Garden City Toastmasters in
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. He is a professional speaker,
entertainer and entertainment agent. More information is at
www.mergetel.com/entertain.
Bob Armstrong, 傑出會員，加拿大安大略省St.
Catharines市Garden
City演講會會員。職業演說家，表演工作者及經紀人。更多的資訊，可以造訪
www.mergetel.com/entertain
譯者：邱少為Alex,
Ping Tung Toastmasters Club
For more information, read “Mentor a Member” on the Toastmasters Web
site. (The link is
www.toastmasters.org/mentoramember.) Consider giving the
Successful Club Series presentation about mentoring to your club. That
program (Item 296) can be purchased on Toastmasters’ online store.
在總會網站上www.toastmasters.org/mentoramember，可以參閱「如何指導一個會友」，了解更多資訊。也可以在自己分會中，運用〈成功會務系列〉關於指導的章節。這個課程（編目296）可以在總會網路商店購得。 |
