My Returns on Investment from Volunteering: Networking, Skills & Helping
Improving your network is often cited as one of the main reasons for joining a professional membership organization, and I have found that I build an even stronger and useful network when I not only join the organization but become an active volunteer with them.
Working alongside others on a committee or a board helps me get to know people in way I just don’t at a conference or networking session. It allows me to collaborate and connect with people as colleagues, working together on common goals AND, critically, it also helps others see how I work – what skills I have, what I bring to a discussion, how I respond to commitments and deadlines.
Starting a conversation with someone new at a networking event can be intimidating and, to make that a little easier, I often seek out those with whom I think I have something in common – our area of business focus or perhaps our geography. Joining a committee or board means I connect with people I may not have instinctively sought out, but who then inform, educate, and inspire me in unexpected and fruitful ways.
Being able to contribute the skills I use regularly as a volunteer is rewarding, and using the skills and knowledge that I have but rarely get to use is even better. For example, I love to create personas to improve patient experience and pharmaceutical company knowledge when developing drugs, but I don’t get to do this very often with my current clients. The chance to build personas as a volunteer was a great opportunity, fun, and – because they had a different focus – helped me improve my skills at this task.
Observing how others on a committee or board handle different issues and problems and apply solutions is a fabulous learning opportunity. I know I can be a little impatient, sometimes overly enthusiastic, and want to do too much too quickly. Watching how others take a different approach and achieve wonderful results helps me try to modify my approach and take a different path to get to the end goal. I don’t always succeed but I do try!
And last, but not least, I volunteer for the same reason I work in the library and information profession. I really, really love to help. The most pleasing way anyone could open any conversation or start an email or message to me is with the words: “Denise, would you be able to help me?” (A close second would be “Denise, I have chocolate – would you like some?”) Helping people get the best answers to their questions has been and continues to be what gives me the greatest pleasure in my working life.
Helping is a huge driver in why I volunteer, and it also is my biggest reward. This may not be the same for everyone – but, in the spirit of World Volunteer Day 2021, perhaps it’s worth a thought about what motivates you for your business and work and if that’s something you could also fulfill by volunteering.
My final thought – Give volunteering a go. You will be so glad you did. In my experience, the benefits far outweigh the time you give. Members of AIIP can get started volunteering with AIIP by sending an email to volunteers@aiip.org today! We would love to hear from you!
Denise Carter is Managing Director & Principal consultant at DCision Consult, located in Geneva, Switzerland. Her company provides reliable, quality research supporting the competitive intelligence and business analysis activities of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Denise currently serves as the AIIP President Elect.
