Call for Volunteer Facilitators
ILA is currently accepting applications for facilitators to lead the Peer Mentoring Circles. Please read the information below before click to apply by 31 January 2025.
Key Dates
- Facilitator application deadline: Friday, 31 January 2025
- Website Posting: Monday, 10 February 2025
- Participant Application Deadline: Sunday, 2 March 2025
- Participants notified: Tuesday, 4 March 2025
- Cohorts begin April 2025
About Peer Mentoring Groups
Peer Mentoring Circles are a cohort mentoring opportunity for ILA Women & Leadership community members. The purpose of the program is to help members move through professional growth and challenges using the Mastermind format. Peer Mentoring Circles offer brainstorming, collective and creative thinking, peer accountability, and support in a group setting. Members challenge each other to set and accomplish goals.
The group requires commitment, confidentiality, willingness to both give and receive advice and ideas, and to support each other with total honesty, respect, and compassion. Group members act as catalysts for growth, devil’s advocates and encouraging colleagues.
About the Facilitator Role
Please note: the facilitator is also an active participant in the Peer Mentoring Circle.
The facilitator manages the logistics and sets the tone of the cohort. She opens each meeting and sets the agenda. The facilitator ensures that ground rules are established, and that all members are equally heard. She is the timekeeper, responsible for keeping the meeting on track and ending on time. The facilitator is responsible for setting up a communication plan that works best with the group. Logistically, the facilitator sends out the video conference link for each meeting (working with ILA if need be). The facilitator can also be a resource for the members.
The time and day of the month of each meeting is established by the facilitator when completing the application. Group members apply knowing the topic, day, and time.
We ask that facilitators provide a one-paragraph description of their cohort topic and description of who should participate.
Developing Your Proposed Group Cohort Idea
Cohorts are formed around a common theme, which can be by industry, stage of career, or leadership competency. Examples include:
Industry
Women in mid-level corporate, in established consulting business, or on tenure track in academia
Stage of Career
Women at mid-career and looking for what’s next, looking toward retirement in the next five years, or balancing parenting with tweens/teens
Leadership Competency
Enhancing listening and communication skills, understanding politics of an organization, or taking risks and moving outside one’s comfort zone
Last year’s topics were:
- Women in Governance
- Women in Consulting
- Active Listening and Team Communication
- Mid-Career (two groups)
Format
- Each group is comprised of six members, including the facilitator (who is also a participant)
- The cohorts meet once a month for eight months. The time and day of the month is determined by the facilitator.
- The groups meet for 90-120 minutes, depending on the decision of the facilitator. The first session in April 2025 begins with introductions of the group members. The final season is in December 2025 and is a wrap-up of the program.
- Begin with a check-in for each person (generally three minutes each).
- Accountability Goal: Each person gives an update on her challenge (generally ten minutes each). Example – “At the last session I talked about how I want to take on more responsibility on the Jefferson Project. I created talking points to bring to my manager about the benefits of having me do so. I have set up a meeting with her for next week to formally present my request.” The group can ask questions and offer insight. Each person sets a new/modified/continued accountability goal for the next session.
- At each session one person is in the Hot Seat, which allows her to present a challenge and go deep into problem-solving with her peers (generally 20-30 minutes).
- If time allows, the facilitator introduces an educational component for discussion. For example, EQ and working remote, your personal brand and its impact on your leadership, or follow-up information from the previous session discussion.
Sample Meeting Agenda
5:00
Check-In
What’s new since our last meeting
5:20
Accountability Goal update
Each member has 10 minutes which includes Q&A from others
6:20
Hot Seat
Deep dive into one member’s challenge
7:00
Adjourn
Questions? Contact ila-peer2peer@ilaglobalnetwork.org
