The power of volunteering externally
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Recently we discussed the career and development benefits of volunteering in your organisation. This week we’re going to take a closer look at the volunteering opportunities outside work, and how you can use them to advance your career.
On a personal note, I’ve volunteered in various capacities over the years, and am currently Trustee and Chair of Trustees at two different organisations. Over the years, volunteering has really enhanced my career and taught me a number of new skills – and has been instrumental in some of the career leaps I’ve made.
Trustee work in particular is great for understanding how Management Boards work, understanding processes for financial oversight, managing and controlling income and spending, handling people issues, practising influencing without authority, and lots more. Also I’ve undertaken Treasurer roles, which was great for learning how to handle and report numbers to leaders.
Have you considered volunteering externally to enhance your CV? Here are my five top tips for learning to be a good Leadership Team Member or Board Member.
A really great place to start when you’re seeking external volunteering opportunities is the website www.gettingonboard.org – a charity which helps connect you with opportunities to volunteer at Board level. If you work in HR, this charity will help you set up development opportunities for people in your organisation. They are really good at coming in and giving presentations to encourage people to get on board! There are many types and shapes of volunteering opportunities. Investigate online, and also talk to HR about existing partnerships, and what people have done before. Talk with your manager about how to combine volunteering for development, alongside your work, as sometimes you may need to attend meetings during working hours.
On a personal note, I’ve volunteered in various capacities over the years, and am currently Trustee and Chair of Trustees at two different organisations. Over the years, volunteering has really enhanced my career and taught me a number of new skills – and has been instrumental in some of the career leaps I’ve made.
Trustee work in particular is great for understanding how Management Boards work, understanding processes for financial oversight, managing and controlling income and spending, handling people issues, practising influencing without authority, and lots more. Also I’ve undertaken Treasurer roles, which was great for learning how to handle and report numbers to leaders.
Have you considered volunteering externally to enhance your CV? Here are my five top tips for learning to be a good Leadership Team Member or Board Member.
- Choose the right thing. Remember you’ll be doing this in your own time, so find something you have a passionate interest and belief in, to keep your motivation high through any tough times. That said, try to do something that is out of your comfort zone and broadens your experience. Choose roles where you have the opportunity to influence and help to shape (rather than just performing a functional role).
- Think about what you’re trying to develop. For example, if you’re trying to develop your customer skills or your ability to deal with the public, it might not be right to become a Trustee, you may prefer to volunteer for a front line role. If you want management experience, volunteer for a mentoring or coaching role. If you’re looking for progression onto a senior management team, working as a Board Member of a non-profit organisation would be the right thing to do.
- Be as good as you can be. I’ve been better in some volunteer roles than others, and the only thing you can expect of yourself is to put the best contribution you can into it. With that in mind, accept that there will be things you don’t know and be forgiving of yourself when you’re new to something and it doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d like.
- Be clear about what you can and can’t offer. Set the right expectations at the start of your volunteering about the degree of commitment that’s realistic. How many hours can you commit? I’ve felt quite bad at times where I’ve felt like I’m not pulling my weight, but most people will understand that you’re giving what you can. This can also develop your ability to use limited time judiciously; managing a workload that will expand exponentially unless you say no is good preparation for demanding senior roles!
- Find your role. Once you are within the opportunity, seek out the right thing for you to do. I’ve agreed to do stuff in organisations, which wasn’t right for me and I’ve failed at it, so I’d suggest not volunteering for every task just because you’re keen or it needs doing! Where is the team already strong – so you don’t need to contribute? What are your best strengths, and how can you use them to benefit the organisation? What can you leave as your legacy – don’t make the organisation reliant on you! And if you are taking on a piece of work as a learner rather than an expert – manage expectations by making this clear.
A really great place to start when you’re seeking external volunteering opportunities is the website www.gettingonboard.org – a charity which helps connect you with opportunities to volunteer at Board level. If you work in HR, this charity will help you set up development opportunities for people in your organisation. They are really good at coming in and giving presentations to encourage people to get on board! There are many types and shapes of volunteering opportunities. Investigate online, and also talk to HR about existing partnerships, and what people have done before. Talk with your manager about how to combine volunteering for development, alongside your work, as sometimes you may need to attend meetings during working hours.