A MESSAGE FROM THE LEND-A-HAND PROGRAM EXECUTIVE CHAIR

Click to learn about TomDear Fellow In-House Counsel:

I am writing to you to encourage you to personally get more involved in tutoring/mentoring and to get your corporation involved as well. Getting involved with tutoring and mentoring the future generation of our country is one of the true “win-win” propositions out there – there are really no downsides to involvement! I know that I have personally received many rewards from my involvement in various efforts working with school-aged children. There are a number of good reasons for business investment and involvement in a tutor/mentor strategy. Let me share with you some of those reasons that involvement on a personal and corporate level will benefit you and your company. Involvement in a tutor/mentoring relationship provides:

  • A more well rounded workforce -- Employees get to test and use more skills via volunteer work. Their networks in and out of the company make them better informed and better leaders.
  • Better links to the community-- Employees in tutor/mentor programs connect with workers from other industries as well as youth and families from other communities. Involvement also allows employees a wonderful opportunity to learn directly what is happening in the community.
  • An Opportunity to identify and sort out growth candidates-- Non profit organizations offer more management and leadership opportunities at an earlier age than can be reached in a company. Demonstrating skills and ability to handle challenges in this environment is much less expensive than promoting someone who cannot do the job, and finding that out after the fact.
  • An Opportunity to test new communications and collaboration systems -- Companies are looking for ways to share knowledge, network and do business in new ways. The Internet offers potential for reduced travel time and costs and for increased collaboration. However, companies continue to search for ways to build participation and productivity in on-line systems. Workers who test these systems in a cause, like tutoring/mentoring, will innovate out of passion for the cause. Their learning can transfer back into practices the company adopts and that lead to an improved bottom line.
  • Improved individual and team productivity -- Employees build relationships within and across departments within an organization through their volunteer efforts.
  • An Opportunity for Employees to get to know Management -- Workers get to know top management better and feel more comfortable approaching them with new ideas
  • An Opportunity to Reverse Roles -- In a volunteer organization roles often reverse. People from different levels focusing on a common goal build mentoring relationships that frequently transfer back to the workplace.
  • Enables employees to "win" when other aspects of the business environment may be tough -- A cause that people believe in offers a reason (beyond a paycheck) to go to work every day, even when business is tough.
  • Publicity -- While the human capital reasons for strategically supporting volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs should motivate any CEO to commit to such a strategy, the involvement in highly visible causes like mentoring, education-to-careers, school-reform, can draw positive consumer attention to a company.
  • Enjoyment -- In addition to the reasons set forth above, a final reason you should get involved is (and this is a well-kept secret) you might actually enjoy yourself and have some fun helping others!

I encourage you to actively get involved! I would be happy to chat with you in greater detail about ideas of getting yourself and your corporation involved. Please contact me at 312-661-4542 or at DCotter@unitrin.com

 

Best Regards,

Dan