Project Managers Without Borders

Volunteering can offer a way to unwind from daily pressures of work and a chance to live out your values. But, your personal interests may not be in alignment with your professional pursuits. Perhaps you work in software development, but you are inspired by environmental causes. Or, maybe your interest in human rights is sparked by travel to global locations for your construction management job. The opportunities for volunteering should not be limited because your interests or passions are not an exact match for your skills and expertise. Rather, “let’s do what we love, and do a lot of it” (Marc Jacobs).

The new challenge of a volunteer assignment outside of your industry sector is a great opportunity to learn how to get out of your comfort zone. Here are 6 tips for navigating new territory: 

#1 - Do your homework. Ideally, you will know something about the organization before volunteering. But, if your information is limited, spend time before your first day on the project to develop a working understanding of the organization and the field. 

#2 - Deep-dive into the onboarding literature. Depending on the structure of the organization, there may be some literature available to describe the basics of the organization, its causes, and its missions. Use these onboarding materials as a starting point. Let your natural interest and curiosity guide the direction of your research.

#3 - Interview and observe. The resources within the organization may not have been devoted to developing a thorough website, so – unlike in a new job – it’s not always the best place to start on researching the organization. Instead, it might be best to start with interviewing the leaders, other volunteers in the organization. Get an idea of their perspective of what the organization is trying to accomplish. Sometimes, knowing the challenges from their perspective can help you narrow in on what information you need to research to perform well in your role.

#4 - Reach out to your network. Not only is your network of friends and family a good resource for finding volunteer assignments, they may be able to connect you with a professional actively working in the field. This person can give a good idea of reasonable expectations for outcomes of the project.

#5 - Ask if you can spend time with clients. Respecting the principles of engagement, meet with key community leaders and groups in their surroundings to learn about their needs and what the organization’s work means to them. Early and effective stakeholder engagement also helps to build trust between the community or clients and the NGO.

#6 - Go back to school. Taking professional development courses to learn more about the sector allows you to be involved in a structured program with an educator dedicated to answering your questions and making sure you comprehend the relevant material. The commitment to a professional development course can range from 1-hour webinars to multi-week open coursework to an on-site intensive seminar.

It is important to not be overwhelmed by your lack of knowledge in the field. This could actually be an advantage to the organization as you are providing “fresh eyes” to the state of the organization. When we are very familiar with a project, we have the propensity to develop bias and may lose the critical perspective. This is even more likely when the passion for the project is high. Be ready to be a sponge in the beginning; absorb every piece of information from everyone engaged in the organization. But, also be prepared to ask questions that will grow your knowledge. Leverage skills from your industry sector, look for activities that overlap in function, if not name, and try to draw parallels from them. 

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take the challenge. Today is a great day to learn something new!

Do you find that you volunteer in organizations with causes outside your area of expertise? What tips can you offer for matching your skills across industry sectors? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.