Managers: How volunteering can help your team

“Giving creates a sense of self-worth and belonging”

What the science says

Did you know that scientists believe that performing acts of kindness to benefit others releases endorphins in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the “helper's high.” Happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, asked people to perform 5 acts of kindness each week for 6 weeks. They found that giving to someone else lifted the happiness of those who participated.

Volunteers Week

Every year in the UK, Volunteers Week is celebrated between 1st and 7th June. It is a week in which the UK celebrates volunteers showing their appreciation for the contribution they make.

Creating bonds

I spoke to one of my client’s, a manager, recently who decided to volunteer for one day a year with his team, at a local charity shop where they all went in and sorted the donations for the day. I asked him what the impact was for his team? He said it has created such a bond between them. They saw each other in a different light, all ‘mucking in’ to help for a good cause.

Studies have proven that having time as a team to volunteer benefits the team in the following ways:

1)    Lower stress levels and reduce anxiety – volunteering provides a change from the daily pressures, relieving stress for the team.

2)    Shifting Focus – volunteering helps teammates shift focus, relaxing their brain. Not being on the continuous worry of deadlines and targets.

3)    Stronger workplace relationships – volunteering helps the team have a shared experience to help others, creating an opportunity to converse in a different way, building team morale.

4)    Creating an atmosphere of fun, laughter and enjoyment – the feel-good hormones of doing different activities can create more fun for a team, producing endorphins.

5)    Builds a team sense of purpose – bringing a team together by giving them a purpose different to their usual everyday work purpose creates a positivity for the team. 

Make it a regular event

Managers, what could you do to bring together, performing acts of kindness?

Even though it is Volunteers Week this week, maybe you could do a regular activity with your team to bring them together? It doesn’t have to necessarily be a day out volunteering for a charity. A simple ‘Act of kindness’ can have the same effects.

What acts of kindness can a team do together?

Here are 5 examples:

1)    Bring in breakfast for the entire team.

2)    Team donations for a local food back.

3)    Ask someone if they want to join you for a lunchtime walk, or a coffee.

4)    Positively call out a colleague for a contribution in a meeting.

5)    Give a care package when someone is ill.

Let us know what your team decides to do, whether volunteering for an organisation or simple acts of kindness around the office.

 This month on Mental Health Chats YouTube and Podcast we are focusing on Burnout. Our 5 guest speakers address what we as managers can do to prevent Burnout for our team, spotting the signs early.  Giving, donating and volunteering is a powerful way to bring a team together, bringing emotional fitness into the workplace.

 If you want to find out more about how you can help strategise emotional fitness and positive mental health for your team, book in Calendly Strategy Call: https://calendly.com/novaassociates/strategy-call