After several years of juggling family life and a rising career, I stopped one day to think this through. At the time, I was very grateful towards what life had given me, so I decided to give something back. Needless to say, friends and family tried to caution me: How will you do it, while taking care of spouse and children, and handling university courses and business trips?

Some people decide to get involved to improve their status on their resume, and that’s perfectly fine. However, after several years of volunteer work, I can attest that the advantages outweigh by far the small amount of weekly hours devoted to the volunteer work. That is why I continue, to this day, to serve breakfast to schoolchildren in a lower-income neighbourhood.

On the plus side, I could only emphasize the immense benefits that volunteer work can have at a professional level, as you will see in the list below. You will also find ideas on how to work this time into your schedule, most probably as busy as mine is. For me, children’s smiles (sometimes toothless!) and happy laughter heard every week, is a form of compensation in itself. I came to understand, through volunteer work, that there are more severe situations than “making your numbers” (as it was in my previous career).

1. Lowers stress levels. Hard to believe? Coming to grips with the realisation that some children’s hunger increases at the end of the month, because the government cheque is received at the beginning of the month, puts a lot of things back into perspective. Pressing matters at work become less pervasive. A certain Zen feeling starts increasing as involvement continues. And lower stress levels bring higher productivity.
2. Increases efficiency in time management. In order to be able to add another activity to your schedule, you must start to get better organized (our previous article on time management “To Be Organized… Or Else” can help you achieve this). Again, better time management will bring an increased efficiency at work, even though you have more to do.
3. Helps with networking. You will meet other professionals who, like you, decided to get involved. This will give you the time and the opportunity to bond with people who work in other fields. Maybe you will even find new business opportunities or exchange services. In any case, you will make new friends.
4. Gives a morale boost because something important is being done. The equation is simple: increased morale = happier employee = higher productivity.
5. Gives team work experience. Volunteer work encourages team work… and does more. As people in the team come from different walks of life, problem solving can become more varied and creative. You will have the opportunity to learn from your team mates, to think out of the box. For managers: if you are spending money on team-building activities right now, maybe it’s time to consider volunteer work to encourage team work.

How do you do it? First, find a cause that is dear to your heart, because that’s the only way you will stick with it in the long run. You should also find an organization that can adapt to your way of life.

Here is an example: if you have little time and you are an early riser, chose an organisation that allows you to give your time outside normal business hours (early in the morning), or that can tolerate occasional away times (business trips).

Finally, chose an activity that you will like doing. Volunteer work is not an act of self-punishment and can, on the contrary, be very rewarding if you like what you are doing.

It makes me smile to watch the reaction of people when I say that my volunteer work is almost a selfish activity. I assure you, you will feel the same way after a few years of involvement. Because it feels good to do good! (A.L.)

Note: Many studies have been published on the positive impact that volunteer work has on employees, such as Deloitte’s Volunteer Impact Survey(2010), Global Trends in Volunteering (2012), Corporate Citizenship (2011), Making the Business Case for Corporate Volunteering (2011), Graff, Linda, (2004) Making the Case for Employee Volunteering, Volunteer Canada

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The authors can be reached at: consultation.virtus@outlook.com or mj.verhaaf@gmail.com

Anick Lamothe and Marie-Josee Verhaaf