Not everyone is fully established in a leadership position. It takes time to build the skills and experience to make your way into a leadership role. One of the best ways to cultivate yourself as a leader is by developing leadership skills through volunteer work. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to work without any pressure and to discover what makes other people want to offer themselves to a cause free of charge. In this article posted by Alice Korngold in http://www.fastcompany.com, we learn the leadership benefits of volunteer work.
Developing Leadership Skills Through Volunteer Work
People grow and become leaders by making a commitment to a cause, and having personal responsibility and accountability.
For those of us in civilian life, there are also ways for us to develop as leaders through experience: through volunteer service. There are myriad nonprofit missions from which to choose, roles and positions in which to engage that are meaningful and productive, and paths for personal and professional advancement.
Nonprofit board service is particularly compelling for business people and professionals seeking to develop as leaders. While the CEOs and staffs of nonprofits build and run programs and services, boards of directors provide strategic and financial leadership to ensure each organization’s vitality, integrity, and fulfillment of its mission. Business people who bring valuable skills and experience as well as diverse backgrounds and perspectives are uniquely equipped to help regional, national, and global organizations to achieve success in addressing poverty, education, health care, conservation of natural resources, and other key issues.
Developing leadership skills through volunteer work is one of the easiest ways to get yourself in the game and develop your potential as a leader, while at the same time, helping a good cause.
