Developing Leadership Skills Through Volunteering
by Elizabeth Campbell
I guess you can say that I have spent my life volunteering. What began as a middle school and high school requirement has quickly become a way of life for me. My volunteer experiences range from working with wildlife to teaching theater to 11-year-olds. Doing this work can be physically and mentally exhausting, but it’s very satisfying. But the best experiences haven’t just come from the service I have done. Instead, they have come from connecting with fellow volunteers and becoming part of the change-making community.
Bonding with fellow volunteers
Knowing how much I gained from volunteer work made me want to continue throughout my life. And in the process, I have had the privilege of meeting and learning from my fellow volunteers. Our relationships often start out by bonding over insecurities. Like that feeling on the first day where your supervisor asks you to do something and it’s not until after they leave that you realize you have no idea what they meant. Or that moment of panic when you wake up and realize you overslept and are late to volunteer. I like to help these volunteers realize that we all have these thoughts. I want them to work hard, have a good time and know they’re appreciated. I hope volunteers of all ages learn this.
Challenges in sharing enthusiasm
Unfortunately, I’ve learned that my zealous passion for the organizations I help is not always shared by others. Or, to put it another way, the amount of time and work I put in is not for everyone. There was one particular teen volunteer I worked with at a wildlife center. While he was initially excited about volunteering, as the pressure of his later high school years built up on him, he showed up less and less. Our supervisors were disappointed that he would never call. He simply showed up whenever he wanted. I remained positive, because I understood that the last thing a volunteer wants to feel is that they are more a burden than a benefit. I told him that it’s perfectly fine to reduce the number of hours he gives as long as he lets someone know. He understood, but he still disappeared. When push came to shove, school was (and is!) more important, which I respect.
Everyone’s story is different. Everyone has a different path they take. But you can’t give up your support for those who still show potential, especially those of the younger set. When I work with teen volunteers I’m excited to hear their hopes and dreams. One girl who was an intern with me at a theatre company wasn’t quite as geared up for administrative work as I was. Her passion was dancing. Her dad encouraged her to do this internship and she wasn’t sure about licking envelopes all day. I told her even dancers need great administrative and organizational skills for their work and their personal lives. In other words, while we should strive to acquire key skills related to our passion, we shouldn’t dismiss the “small stuff” as it all factors into our growth.
Growing in this community
Through connecting with volunteers and sharing their enthusiasm and challenges, I’ve realized that supporting others as a huge part of leadership. Now, no matter who I work with I make it my volunteer responsibility to get to know them. In doing so I become part of a community of people who want to change the world through service. I exchange ideas with them and learn from them. And most importantly, I set newer and higher standards that will help me become a better leader. For instance, one volunteer I worked with who had many years of experience gave me great advice. She said that every day after she got home from volunteering she would sit at her desk and write. Her journal helped her remember all the projects she accomplished and the people she worked with. Ever since, I’ve kept a journal of all my volunteer work which helps me learn from my experiences, mistakes and accomplishments.
When it comes to volunteering, I want to do some good for others, in my very small way. I try to take all my good fortune and do something with it. And when I’m surrounded by amazing volunteers, I want to both learn from them and help them grow. We push and support each other to work harder. It isn’t about recognition or praise. I know I have so much to learn every day. But as I try to be a better leader, I see others become great leaders, too. So, at the end of the day, it’s not about simply completing the tasks we were given. It’s about those great tasks that we will face in the future.
We volunteers are primed to build up our communities. In the process we build up ourselves.
