The Right Way to Volunteer
A Guide to Meaningful and Effective Volunteering
As someone who has dedicated a significant chunk of her life to volunteering and working with or leading volunteer teams, I find that there’s a certain finesse to volunteering that many individuals do not know or choose to overlook.
It’s perplexing to me that sometimes (many times), volunteers need to be coaxed into fulfilling the commitments they’ve made. Some people seem so focused on “It’ll look good on my CV” i.e. the potential career, academic, or social benefits of volunteering that they lose sight of the core meaning or value of being a volunteer in itself.
I recently came across some tweets on this issue, and I thought, “Well well, I’m not alone after all.”
In this article, I outline a series of guidelines on the effective volunteering art, hoping to provide valuable insights to one, two, or hundreds of people.
Before You Volunteer
When considering a volunteering opportunity, it’s important to look beyond surface-level factors like whether you know someone else who volunteers there or how “big” the organisation/program seems to look. Instead, focus on these key questions/points:
- The Goal
Does the organisation or program’s mission resonate with my personal values and interests? Does it align with something I’d like to contribute my time (a part of my life) to?
2. Your Schedule
Do I have or can I create time for it? Many people underestimate their schedules or overestimate their juggling abilities such that they take up multiple volunteering opportunities (alongside their life activities outside volunteering) which they genuinely do not have the time for. Before you volunteer, honestly assess your schedule to determine if you can realistically dedicate the necessary time to the volunteer role. Overcommitting can lead to burnout and decreased effectiveness.
3. Ask Questions
Ask specific questions about the role’s responsibilities, time commitment, and other requirements. Ask, “What does this role entail? What would I be expected to do? How many hours am I required to dedicate weekly? I’m able to commit X hours weekly, does that work for you? This helps you make an informed decision about whether the opportunity is a good fit.
4. Personal Benefits
While contributing to a cause/goal should be your primary focus, it’s also important to consider the “by-benefits”. Knowing your “why” can provide a powerful motivation to stay dedicated. Sometimes, the fact that you get to contribute to a goal could/should be enough gain, but other benefits might include gaining new skills, expanding your network, or exploring potential career paths. One hack here might be setting personal goals based on the dynamics of the volunteering opportunity.
While You Volunteer
Now that you’ve committed to a volunteering opportunity, here’s what you should do while you’re there:
- Ask Questions:
As a new joiner, be clear on what’s expected of you. One way to do that is to ask questions. Sample questions include, “What’s the goal for this week and where do I come in? When is this expected to be ready? Who do I report to? Are there any resources I need to get started?”
2. Set and Follow Structures:
If, like me, volunteering is one of the many moving parts of your life, you need to set a structure. Whether you dedicate an hour daily, four hours on Saturdays, or a specific number of hours on certain days, decide on how to cull out time to fulfil your commitments. This is crucial to ensure that you not only fulfil your commitments, but also that you do so without neglecting other areas of your life.
3. Show Up:
The nicest way I can put this is, “Do your damn job!” If you truly believe that contributing your quota counts towards the overall goal, you must also believe the opposite. Your inactions could potentially affect the project timeline, goal, or teammates’ schedules if they have to pick up your slack. It’s somewhat selfish to renege on commitments without considering the effects on people or doing it consistently. Be dependable.
4. Communicate When You Can’t:
As humans, we won’t ALWAYS be able to show up. What reflects decency and respect for others, however, is taking the initiative to communicate when it doesn’t seem like you can meet up with something you had agreed to do due to unforeseen circumstances.
We often expect commitment, follow-through, and communication in our personal and professional relationships. However, we may struggle to give the same in volunteer roles. Show that you value the work and the people you work with by communicating clearly and effectively.
5. Strive for Excellence:
A good way to grow in your role as a volunteer is to chase excellence. Excellence doesn’t mean outperforming others; it doesn’t mean perfection either. It means polishing something until it shines, and doing things better the next time. This way, it helps you enjoy your role, not sink into complacence, and actually get the best out of that volunteering opportunity.
6. Document your Work and Learnings:
If one of your major goals for volunteering is for experience, exposure, skill development, and overall career advancement, it is best that you keep a personal note of what you are learning, the work you are doing, and some of your proudest achievements on the job. This can be very useful when you have to recall some of your work and achievements from the role at an interview. It also helps you keep track of the growth you are experiencing, which can be a major factor when you have to do the next point you’re about to read.
7. Know When to Leave:
It’s important to recognize when it’s time to move on from a volunteer role. Sometimes, the signs could be that you’re not able to commit to it anymore, you’re not happy to be there anymore, you don’t think you’re growing, or some other signs. Whatever it is, it’s important that you’re able to know when to move on.
Moving on wouldn’t always mean leaving the organisation or project; it could be seeking out new opportunities or challenges within the same team or taking a break to recharge. However, it could also be leaving entirely.
If you decide to leave, do so honourably and properly. Support a smooth transition by handing over tasks, resources, and projects appropriately. Ensure that your departure or its timing does not disrupt the ongoing work or jeopardise the work.
Many of these points may seem obvious, but sometimes, we need a reminder. I also find that some of these principles can be applied not only to volunteering but also to other areas of our lives.
