A critical and analytical thinking approach to mentoring, leadership and development of high emotional IQ within our community. This is achieved by supporting existing and up and coming (Student) leaders to in turn support each other and the wider student body via an organically grown mentor support network. A mentor is developed by practicing these tenets in their normal work and social activities and by sharing their experiences, as appropriate, with their mentor, even and especially as they mentor others. In doing, you shall learn.
A large part of ELM is really: It is what you make it to be.
Meaning:
With self-motivation and commitment, the ELM program is incredibly empowering and rewarding for you and your society, team, study group, future employer. It is aimed at giving you the opportunity, with the support of a network of people, to acquire those professional and life ‘soft-skills’ you hear so much about but are difficult to define or find ways to develop otherwise. Without this personal motivation, it will be hard to make this a valuable experience. With that self-motivation, If you are willing, the ELM team and the mentor network will support and magnify your efforts alongside you, to empower you.
Central Tenants and Organizing Principals (Orgel and Scott, 2019)
Underlying organizing principle: Observe, Report, Refine, Act (ORRA)
The central tenants of ELM practice:
- Active Listening
Function: Supportive, builds community. Gives the person being listened to, the chance to vent and or form ideas for understanding and or solutions.
Checks meaning and affirms that both listening and understanding overlap.
(OBSERVE) - Active Talking
Function: Check assumptions, better defines the focus (problem/challenge/opportunity). Collaborative in forming investigative questions with the mentor / mentee / colleague / friend / group.
(REPORT AND REFINE) - Confidence to be Vulnerable
Function: Shows empathy. Also...innovation, positive change, involves risks. Learning involves exposing ignorance to at least to oneself. Having confidence that this is both normal and necessary and that EVERYONE experiences this, even if they don’t admit it to themselves at first, reduces stress and improves moral and creativity.
(All aspects of ORRA) - Know Your Self and Your Limits
Function: It is not up to you to solve all problems, including all problems specific to yourself. It is up to you to learn to know when you need to refer to others for knowledge, skills, training and help for yourself and others.
(All aspects of ORRA) - Leadership is Only Partly About the Leader
Function: It is about the community. Servant leadership. Consensus building. Transparency. Accountability.
(ACT)