Unlocking Skills Through Volunteering – IEEE Spectrum

Since the beginning of the 2000s, I have been actively working in non-profit organizations and local public organizations, including the organization of my children's school. There I worked with teachers and other parents to plan and implement annual programs that enriched students and the school community as a whole.

Thanks to my work, I realized that volunteering is not only about returning; It is also a way to learn new skills. Every hour the invested adds a tangible value to personal and professional growth.

My experience showed me that organizations based on membership, such as IEEE This offers volunteer capabilities should position and sell them as advantages in the highest level. Even if not all participants voluntarily voluntarily, the presence of opportunities and inspiration taken from participation can be powerful catalysts for a more dynamic and devoted community.

The advantages of volunteering are universally known and recognized. Its powerful ability to reduce stress and increase the feeling of hormones, such as dopamine, is widely advertised, as noted in Forbes article To Garen Staglinco -founder of one mind at work. Nevertheless, the influence of volunteering goes far beyond the typical advantages of constructing a resume, acquiring skills and a sense of satisfaction. Deeper value lies in its ability to improve Professional growth and personal development less obvious ways.

The pluses of volunteering

Here are five ways in which “why” the goal can fuel “how” growth:

1. Opportunities for cooperation. Volunteering provides a arena for cooperation, for example, the unification of professionals from industry and academic circles to combat common purposes. Dynamic exchange, where true growth occurs. This is not only about what is being done; We are talking about an invaluable experience of working with a variety of minds to solve problems – an experience that accelerates development in all areas.
2. Incubator For leadership. In an organization such as IEEE, where volunteers form their structure and future through committees and management bodies, the environment is ideal for the development of professional skills with high exposure. Volunteering instills leadership skills, including strategic thinking, solving problems and the ability to inspire others that can be used in professional (and personal) life.
3. Purchase of decision -making abilities. Volunteering allows you to aggravate skills, which are sometimes difficult to improve in structured restrictions on typical work. Working outside the usual professional hierarchy, volunteers get a chance to aggravate their critical thinking skills and decision -making with greater autonomy and clear mission oriented. The task of volunteering, such as an assessment of applications for awards and scholarships, can hone the analytical and skills of fair judgment. Conference and events planning can help in the development of organizational, project managementAnd the ability to solve problems.
4. Intellectual expansionThe volunteering field is a fantastic way to increase your intelligence and reveal hidden potential. Thanks to a joint solution to problems and the exchange of organic knowledge, complex problems can be solved. When you move from one task to another, skills can be based on each other, creating an integral effect that quickly increases your abilities.
5. Remaining in the know, connected and confidently. The total advantage of volunteering is that it can serve as a professional update for its skills and prospects and can expose you to new technologies and trends outside your area. You can learn how to communicate and more effectively communicate between generations and origin, working together with a variety of people. A joint environment can also provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate experience in a new one and get a recognition of peers, which, in turn, can strengthen your professional value and increase your confidence.

Volunteering not only for Young specialists; This can be a catalyst for people at every stage of their career. This can increase the confidence of professionals in the middle of the career, which will allow them to hone their skills and solve new problems. For older professionals, volunteering can expand their networks, providing fresh prospects and opportunities for working together outside traditional bunkers.

Any organization that provides opportunities for volunteering provides members or employees with a valuable opportunity for active investment.