Leading With Heart: Harnessing Leadership Skills Through Volunteering
A few weeks ago, my partner and I were invited to be guest speakers at a local high school’s Black Student Union.
The first question asked was how we navigate reactions to our hair in the workplace as I wear my hair in braids and my partner has long locs.
We spoke to them about the importance of authenticity, but also of belonging.
In an ideal world, your work should speak for itself and if it doesn’t, do you want to work there? Is this the place where you belong?
We visited for over an hour answering a myriad of questions such as adversities we’ve faced, how we chose our major(s), what we like to do for fun, and how we sustain our partnership.
This was our first time presenting together, but we left reminded of the importance of representation and giving back/paying it forward across all ages and levels.
There were adults who supported and guided us in our formative years and we want to ensure we are doing the same for other youth, especially youth of color.
This experience reminded me that whether you are a seasoned or emerging leader, volunteering is an often overlooked, but incredibly rich setting for leadership development. Volunteering provides an opportunity to grow not only as a leader but also as a compassionate human being.
Gaining Clarity in Purpose
Supporting the causes that mean the most to you has a clarifying effect on your vision of the future as a leader. When you align your actions with your convictions, leaders improve empathy, reconnect with their values, and recognize the broader significance of their work in the community and in their organizations.
Developing Deeper Relationships
Volunteering offers a unique opportunity to form meaningful connections with people who share your passion for a cause. Whether you’re working together on a project or comforting those in need, these shared experiences forge strong bonds. Leaders who prioritize relationship-building create a more engaged and motivated team, resulting in increased productivity and collaboration.
Learning Effective Communication
Leadership thrives on effective communication. Strong leadership requires the ability to adapt your communication style to suit your audience. Whether it’s explaining a project’s goals or motivating a team to overcome challenges, volunteering hones your ability to convey your message clearly and persuasively.
Fostering Innovation and Creativity
Volunteering often comes with limited resources, forcing you to think creatively and find innovative solutions. This constraint-based environment fosters resourcefulness and encourages leaders to think outside the box. These problem-solving skills are invaluable in leadership roles, where unexpected challenges are par for the course.
Embracing Diversity and Open-Mindedness
Volunteering brings together individuals from various professional backgrounds, leveling hierarchies and allowing executives and entry-level employees to collaborate. These shared activities provide a platform for employees to expand their professional networks, learn valuable leadership skills, and form lasting friendships and partnerships.
Furthermore, Deloitte’s Impact Survey of human resources executives revealed that 81% felt skilled volunteering should be considered in a hiring decision and 76% felt volunteering made a candidate more desirable — with the desirability factor even higher for volunteer experience among college graduates.
The impact of volunteering is profound and rich with valuable lessons that shape leaders into more empathetic, purpose-driven, and effective individuals. Volunteering deepens relationships, improves communication, creates innovation, and creates inclusive communities. Volunteering makes a meaningful impact on our communities, organizations, and the world at large.
