About this Video

• Video Title: Volunteering: A Project Manager’s Career Boost | Episode 506
• Channel: CorneliusFichtner
• Speakers: Cornelius Fichtner, M Mata, Yasmina Kifi
• Duration: 00:59:05

Introduction

This video podcast discusses how volunteering, specifically project-based volunteering, can significantly benefit project managers' careers. The hosts explore how volunteering enhances leadership skills, expands professional networks, and provides opportunities for skill development and personal growth. The discussion features two co-authors of the book "Volunteering Journey to Project Leadership."

Key Takeaways

• Project Volunteering Defined: Project volunteering involves dedicating time and expertise to projects within various organizations, not just one-time contributions. It focuses on managing projects with defined start and end points.
• Benefits of Project Volunteering: Volunteering boosts leadership skills (delegation, communication, managing diverse teams), expands professional networks, and facilitates exploring new fields and industries. It allows for skill development outside of typical work experiences.
• Finding the Right Volunteer Role: Self-reflection is key to aligning volunteer roles with career goals. Consider desired skill development, values alignment with the organization's mission, and schedule compatibility.
• Applying Volunteer Experience to Work: The biggest challenge is often the resistance to change within workplaces. Start by showcasing successes from volunteer projects and gradually introduce new methods or approaches.
• Getting Started with Volunteering: Begin small, identify areas of passion, and be upfront about career goals during the interview process. Utilize online resources to find volunteer opportunities.

To align a volunteering role with career goals, a project manager should first reflect on their desired skills and areas for improvement. They should identify skills they want to practice or learn (e.g., leadership, specific software, networking) and then find volunteer opportunities that allow them to develop those skills. Additionally, they should consider the values of the organization and ensure alignment with their own. The goal is to find volunteer opportunities that bring joy and support career growth, not just add to a to-do list.

In the context of the video, "exploring new fields" through volunteering means gaining experience and skills outside of one's typical work environment and industry. For example, a project manager with a background in technology might volunteer for an event-planning organization to learn about event management and expand their skillset into a new area. It's about broadening one's horizons and gaining new experiences that can enhance their professional capabilities.

M Mata's volunteering experience at TEDx Salt Lake City significantly shifted her mindset from being an individual contributor to leading a team. This experience taught her effective delegation, improved her communication skills (particularly in avoiding a bossy tone), and helped her create a trusting team environment through rehearsal and practice. Further volunteering with PMI Northern Utah, in a role with direct reports, exposed her to diverse team members and backgrounds, fostering leadership skills in managing a multicultural team towards a shared goal.

M Mata's biggest challenge in translating her TEDx experience into her work was overcoming resistance to change. She learned new methods (e.g., building a risk matrix, creating reports) and was enthusiastic about implementing them at work. However, she encountered resistance from peers. Her solution was to be more cautious, test new ideas gradually, and explain the reasoning and benefits of the new approaches learned through her TEDx volunteering, presenting success cases from her volunteer experience to illustrate the value. This involved a merging of learning from a different environment into her workplace.

M Mata describes the PMI Northern Utah chapter as a friendly and supportive environment. Members are willing to help and support each other's growth, understanding that everyone is a volunteer with other commitments. She highlights a sense of belonging and mutual respect, where mistakes are understood as part of the learning process. The chapter's diversity in members' professional backgrounds further enhances the learning experience.

Volunteering helps project managers improve adaptive skills by requiring them to manage expectations and handle change in flexible environments. Khelifi’s experience highlights learning to ask clarifying questions about workload and communication to avoid overcommitment, a skill directly applicable to project management. She also emphasizes the importance of observing and understanding existing processes before proposing changes, a crucial aspect of change management. The need to adapt communication styles to diverse audiences and cultures in volunteer settings further builds adaptability.

Networking at TEDx helped M Mata overcome feelings of isolation after moving to Utah. It exposed her to diverse individuals from various backgrounds (admin assistants, a tarot reader, healthcare workers, etc.), broadening her perspective on work styles and approaches. This expanded network not only helped her feel more connected to the community but also led to new career opportunities, including support from her network during a job loss. The network developed a sense of community and mutual support, helping members find new job opportunities when needed.

To successfully engage in volunteering, a project manager needs a growth mindset, accepting that they don't know everything and being open to new interactions and experiences. It involves a willingness to try new things, even those outside one's comfort zone or typical job responsibilities. This openness to learning and adapting is essential for leveraging the opportunities that volunteering offers for personal and professional growth.

No, the transcript indicates that the specific organization is less important than the type of project involvement and the skills gained. The focus is on project management skills development, regardless of whether the volunteering takes place within a PMI chapter or a different organization. The key is to find a volunteer opportunity that aligns with one's interests and career goals, offering opportunities for growth and skill development.

The book uses practical case studies and interviews to bridge the gap between volunteering and workplace application. The case studies offer concrete examples of how volunteers learned new skills and applied them in their jobs. The interviews feature diverse volunteers from various organizations and backgrounds, showcasing different learning experiences and approaches. This combination of real-world examples and diverse perspectives helps readers relate their volunteer experiences to their own work environments and apply the lessons learned more effectively.

The biggest challenge in translating volunteer experience to the workplace, as highlighted in the interviews, is often resistance to change within the work environment. People may be hesitant to adopt new methods or approaches learned through volunteering. Additionally, the skills learned in volunteering may not always directly translate to current job roles, requiring a more strategic approach to application. It's not always immediately obvious how new skills learned in one context can be transferred to another, but with time and effort it is possible to adapt and apply them.

To get started in volunteering using project management skills, the speakers recommend starting small and identifying areas of personal passion. Find local non-profits or organizations and directly offer your help. Online resources can help match volunteers with opportunities. When approaching an organization, be upfront about your intentions—to gain experience leading projects and using your PM skills—to maximize the value of the experience for your career development. Even starting with a smaller contributor role and gradually taking on more responsibilities is a good way to begin.

Common mistakes new volunteers make include overcommitting their time, aiming for perfection, and subsequently burning out. Another mistake is not being realistic about the skills involved in a volunteer opportunity; thoroughly reviewing requirements before committing is important. Finally, a lack of transparency about one's goals and available time commitment can also lead to difficulties.

Whether volunteering counts towards Professional Development Units (PDUs) depends on the nature of the volunteer work. If the volunteer activity involves project management skills (planning, execution, budgeting, etc.), it is likely to qualify for PDUs. However, if it's a one-off activity, it may not qualify. In case of doubt, it's best to directly contact PMI for clarification on whether a particular volunteering role qualifies for PDU credit.