The power of volunteering – part 1
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A senior talent manager in a large organisation reminded me again this week that volunteering is still one of the best career strategies for career growth. They were talking about their own volunteering plans!
While it’s inevitable some people will view people with a “can do attitude” as being enthusiastic and perky (and they do get a bit of stick sometimes), don’t let this put you off. The truth is that it’s enjoyable to be around people who are keen, enthusiastic and willing. If you have a positive approach to what you’re doing, people will want to work with you – and volunteering is one of the best ways to show that enthusiasm to a wide range of people, building a reputation as being fun to work with.
Volunteering opens up opportunities that you otherwise may not have chance to explore, and helps you build great relationships with people in very different areas. It often gives you chance to undertake work and development outside your normal comfort zone. All in all, it’s great for career development.
So what is it that’s stopping you from volunteering?
EXPERIMENT
Spend the next week listing out the possible volunteering opportunities you spot in your email and your conversations. Which interest you the most? Why? Make a list of the criteria that attract you so you can spot the right opportunity fast in future.
While it’s inevitable some people will view people with a “can do attitude” as being enthusiastic and perky (and they do get a bit of stick sometimes), don’t let this put you off. The truth is that it’s enjoyable to be around people who are keen, enthusiastic and willing. If you have a positive approach to what you’re doing, people will want to work with you – and volunteering is one of the best ways to show that enthusiasm to a wide range of people, building a reputation as being fun to work with.
Volunteering opens up opportunities that you otherwise may not have chance to explore, and helps you build great relationships with people in very different areas. It often gives you chance to undertake work and development outside your normal comfort zone. All in all, it’s great for career development.
So what is it that’s stopping you from volunteering?
- Have you got too much to do? If this is the case, don’t completely close yourself off to volunteering as a career tactic. You may just need to be selective about what you volunteer for. Once you’ve got a reputation for volunteering, you get more leeway to pick and choose the opportunities that come your way, and you get permission to say “no” when it’s not right for you – so you can fit the right volunteering opportunities around your normal role.
- Will I be asked to do too much? In truth, quite probably. But if you’re constantly giving feedback on the things that you’re enjoying and adding value to, you can shape the requests that other people make. As a rule we don’t mind being drawn into work we enjoy, as long as we can avoid the stuff we can’t do or that drains us. Help people understand what work you are likely to volunteer for and what work to pass onto others.
- Will I get asked to do the same thing over and over again? – Yes, particularly if you’ve done it well. So be more proactive – instead of waiting for the repeat request, find something new. It’s easier to opt out if you can tell people you are already committed elsewhere.
EXPERIMENT
Spend the next week listing out the possible volunteering opportunities you spot in your email and your conversations. Which interest you the most? Why? Make a list of the criteria that attract you so you can spot the right opportunity fast in future.