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Why do you volunteer?

Why do you volunteer? I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Mostly because my schedule has gotten over-booked and I am finding the need to scale back on some of my commitments. There are a few things I want to get to that I simply have not had time for and it is leading me to reprioritize my time.

Another reason I’ve thought about this over the last few years is that I have had the opportunity to be a volunteer, manage volunteers, observe volunteers, and observe others as they manage volunteers. It is interesting to see the different approaches.

One thing that stands out to me is the difference between volunteering for the “right” reasons versus volunteering for the “wrong” reasons. Labeling someone’s reason to volunteer is quite subjective and doesn’t really seem fair because what I may see as a “wrong” reason to volunteer might be completely acceptable to someone else. However, there is one thing that I’ve seen emerge in volunteering that seems to always lead to a negative experience for everyone involved. The thing I am talking about is selfishness. Selfishness has no place in volunteering.

Although I am sure it happens, I don’t think it is common for people to volunteer purely for personal gain. I would like to believe I can have more faith in humanity than that (although I question that an increasingly frequent amount these days), but it does seem to happen periodically that volunteers lose touch with the initial reason or passion that led them to volunteer in the first place.

When a volunteer becomes selfish, or starts volunteering for a selfish reason like power, excessive recognition, greed, influence, or several other selfish reasons, things seem to start falling apart. Other volunteers get hurt or feel bullied. They may become disengaged. Additionally, the volunteer whose attitude or approach shifted may begin to also feel unappreciated. I’ve seen it happen many times. Selfishness can quickly lead to burnout, loss of interest of volunteers, and damaged relationships.

Not only have I witnessed this happen repeatedly, I have also been involved in it. As both the person experiencing a selfish volunteer and, I’m ashamed to admit, having been the one who lost sight of the real reason I was helping, becoming the selfish volunteer who was fed up with not receiving what I thought was proper recognition. It is not my proudest moment. But it sure has helped me better understand why I volunteer, and get a better handle on where I want my personal resources allocated.

If you are currently a volunteer and are unhappy, or frustrated, or irritated, then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate what you are spending your time volunteering for. If you find others are irritated with you or frustrated with you, then maybe you are the one spreading selfish vibes. It’s OK to let go of something. It’s healthier to invest your time and talents to something you feel passionately about, and something that allows you to volunteer with a bigger purpose in mind and without selfishness.

I have many sticky notes on my desk with reminders and sayings. One of the notes says, “admit where you’re at and then you can grow.” This applies to everything in your life, but take a moment to look at it through the volunteer lens. It may help you realize where your resources are best utilized, where your talents are most needed, and where you can not only have the biggest impact but also feel the greatest level of satisfaction as a volunteer. But first you must be able to honestly and truthfully analyze where you’re at.

In my many years working with volunteers and being a volunteer, I’ve been told many times that you cannot fire a volunteer, and that you must take what comes your way regarding volunteers because they are hard to find. I don’t believe either of those things. I believe in finding and cultivating the passion of volunteers and allowing and encouraging them to spend their time where they feel most connected. Otherwise we risk allowing selfishness, bitterness, or frustration to edge its way into volunteer opportunities where it causes damage and doesn’t belong.

Jackie Krawczak is president/CEO of the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce. Her column runs bi-weekly on Thursdays. Follow Jackie on Twitter @jkrawczak.

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