How can volunteering improve your Decision-Making?

Volunteering gives you an opportunity to not only contribute towards the growth of a project or a good cause, but you also benefit from volunteering through the knowledge and experience gained during the tasks assigned to you. Volunteering is a great opportunity to gaining hands on experience even without having a full time job. I strongly recommend the practice!

Volunteering allows you to better understand yourself: how do you behave in different situations? It also assists in thinking outside of your mental frames and becoming aware of many perspectives and possibilities. Volunteering also pushes you to be more confident in yourself and to take the initiative, which is one of the biggest hurdles to decision-making.

Volunteering is a great way for Self-discovery. On the journey of self-discovery you have to try out different things to know what you love to do, your strengths and weaknesses among other things. Volunteering is a way you can achieve this, through volunteering you get to learn new things and develop new skills (social skills) Volunteering also helps you to connect with people who have similar interests to you and helps you expand your network.

Why volunteering is special owes largely to the fact that it is deeply rooted internally. Most volunteers decided from an intrinsic motivation sphere to make such decisions with less of an extrinsic push which can come from monetary rewards. Volunteering is something to watch out for in setting up a leadership, it's a great attitude of self-leadership. Volunteering opens up opportunities and pushes up into the top tier. It is the cheapest way to learn, garner experience, and grow forward. I am sharpening my community spirit, thought-leadership, and expertise by volunteering to bring these thoughts to you for free.

Volunteering often involves stepping outside one's comfort zone and taking calculated risks. This experience can cultivate a willingness to embrace uncertainty and make bolder decisions in other areas of life. It often requires finding creative solutions with limited resources. This cultivates resourcefulness, adaptability, and the ability to think outside the box, leading to more innovative and effective decision making. Volunteering exposes individuals to different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. This broadened worldview encourages the ability to see situations from multiple angles, fostering more inclusive and well-rounded decision making.

1- Considera cómo se alinea con tus valores y objetivos de carrera. 2- Busca proyectos que desafíen tus habilidades y te ofrezcan la oportunidad de desarrollar nuevas competencias. Por ejemplo, si trabajas en finanzas, un voluntariado en gestión de fondos para una ONG puede brindarte experiencia práctica invaluable. 3- Elige una causa que te apasione; esto no solo aumentará tu compromiso, sino que también te proporcionará una satisfacción más profunda. 4- Evalúa la estructura y el soporte del programa. Un buen programa de voluntariado debe ofrecer orientación y recursos para que tu experiencia sea enriquecedora. 5- Considera el impacto a largo plazo de tu contribución: busca oportunidades donde puedas dejar una huella duradera.

Before you get into a volunteer position, you have to ensure it aligns with your goals. You have to ensure you know what is expected of you and prepare yourself to deliver on that. You have to be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn on the job and be open to working with different people. Ensure you equip yourself to add value to the position you are volunteering for.

1- Investiga a fondo la organización y el proyecto en el que participarás. Comprende sus objetivos, impacto y el papel específico que desempe?arás. 2- Evalúa tus habilidades y cómo pueden aplicarse o expandirse en este nuevo entorno. 3- Prepárate mental y emocionalmente para los desafíos que puedas enfrentar, especialmente si el voluntariado implica trabajar en situaciones difíciles o con poblaciones vulnerables. 4- Participa en cualquier formación o sesión informativa que ofrezca la organización para estar bien preparado. 5- Mantén una mente abierta y adaptable; el voluntariado a menudo requiere flexibilidad y capacidad para ajustarse a situaciones imprevistas.

Taking the time to reflect on your volunteer experiences can be a powerful tool for personal growth. By journaling your experiences, setting goals, and seeking feedback, you can gain a deeper understanding of the impact of your contributions. Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, and consider how your volunteer work aligns with your personal values. Reflect on the relationships you build through volunteering and their potential for the future. Use your reflections to set goals for skill development and refine your approach to volunteering. Adopt a mindset of continuous improvement, allowing each volunteer experience to inform and enhance your future contributions.

Pregunta cómo tus habilidades contribuyeron y qué nuevas competencias desarrollaste. ?En qué situaciones te sentiste más desafiado y cómo respondiste? Reflexiona sobre las interacciones con la comunidad y el equipo: ?Qué entendiste mejor sobre diferentes perspectivas y culturas? Considera cómo esta experiencia ha impactado tus valores y objetivos personales y profesionales. Es útil escribir tus pensamientos o compartirlos en discusiones grupales. Esta reflexión no solo solidifica tu aprendizaje, sino que también te prepara para futuras oportunidades de voluntariado, asegurando que cada experiencia sea más enriquecedora y significativa. Esta introspección transforma el voluntariado en un viaje de crecimiento personal y profesional continuo.

To reflect on your volunteering experience, ensure you keep records of your work. Reflect on how your work done aligned with your goals before the start of the position. Keep records of all your wins and achievements and celebrate them. Keep records of your loss and mistakes and learn from them to ensure you don’t repeat them. Reflect on the connections/networks you made and how you can keep in touch. Reflect on your growth during this volunteer period and align it with your next steps/mission.

La adaptabilidad y rapidez en aprender, desarrolladas en contextos voluntarios diversos, son esenciales para decisiones efectivas bajo presión. La exposición a culturas y situaciones variadas fomenta la empatía y apertura mental, permitiendo considerar múltiples perspectivas. Además, la creatividad en el uso de recursos limitados y la experiencia en equipos multidisciplinarios mejoran la colaboración y comunicación, cruciales para decisiones colectivas. El sentido de responsabilidad y ética, inculcados en el voluntariado, orientan hacia decisiones conscientes y beneficiosas. Estas experiencias enriquecen el proceso de toma de decisiones, aportando un valor único en el ámbito profesional.

I must say, what an amazing topic, think about it!?? By choosing or opting for “Volunteering” anywhere, you have already started using your decision-making skill, isn’t it??? When it comes to improving it, the top two things that stand out for me are: 1. Crisis Management: During volunteering, we often come across situations where we need to think instantaneous ensuring positive impact and outcome for a greater good. 2. Communication: Effective communication is one of the key attributes to collaborate and contribute. As we focus more towards improving our communitcation, we are enable us as well as others to have a well-informed opportunity to make better decisions. #DTalks ??????