Category Archives: Professional Development

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The Road to Freelance

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Many established professionals consider leaving the world of traditional employment and launching a Freelance consulting career.  The growing lack of job security,  as evidenced by the unemployment rate,  along with the increasing occurrence of toxic work environments endured by those who are working,  have caused many people to give serious thought to self-employment.

I’ve found much personal and professional satisfaction in Freelance nation but there are challenges.  Preparation is key and if you’re still on the job,  begin now to build the infrastructure that will support your transition.   Take the steps while on the corporate dime to sock away some cash and learn how to approach your business clients and contacts as an independent professional.  Learn how to package and sell your services and determine and negotiate fees for the scope of work you will perform.  Visit professional associations and meet Freelancers who do what you aspire to do and ask some questions,  especially on how to build visibility and credibility as an independent consultant in your industry.

Build your savings account

Aim to have savings that will allow you to cover your living expenses for 12 months.  You don’t know how long it will take to sign your first client,  or the one after that.  Freelancers,  especially in the beginning,  will need cash to float themselves,  especially if one is the sole or primary breadwinner.  Furthermore,  scheduled  projects have a nasty habit of being delayed or even canceled.

Start saving money now by eliminating those $5.00 coffee drinks.  Brown bag your lunch whenever possible and cut back on nights out eating and drinking by 75%.  Do not buy any clothing you don’t absolutely need and cancel any vacation plans.  Remember that in addition to paying for living expenses,  you may need to buy or upgrade technology hardware and/or software and will also need to pay for marketing materials  (business cards, website, etc.)  so that you can effectively operate and promote your business.

Business plan and business model

You must figure out how you will get clients,  select the services you will offer and how to determine your fees.  You must choose the marketing materials you will use and decide what they will look like.  You must define the best target client groups and know how to approach them and convince them to hire you for Freelance work—even if you’ve worked with them as an employee of you current organization.  Do you need to be accepted onto an approved vendor list in order to be considered for hire?  Discreetly ask questions of those you can trust to not rat you out to your boss.   Also get an understanding of the typical length of the sales cycle.

Additionally,  it is necessary that you assess the competitive landscape.  The presence of competition is good,  as it demonstrates the need for services you provide and shows that Freelancers are hired to fulfill those needs.  However,  you don’t want to be in an over-crowded marketplace,  unless you are a very heavy-hitter.

Finally,  summon the discipline to write a business plan.  A mission statement,  comprehensive marketing plan and basic cash flow and profit and loss statements will provide a useful road map to get you started and encourage you to examine what will be required to make your Freelance venture successful.  I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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From Employee to Freelancer

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Perhaps the handwriting is on the wall?  Is your intuition talking to you?  Anyway,  rumor has it that a few jobs will be eliminated and you suspect that your head may eventually be on the chopping block.  In addition to sprucing up your resume and LinkedIn page,  you wonder if perhaps you might go out on your own?  If you must face insecurity,  why not have it on your own terms?  You may be right.  Millions of Americans have done exactly that,  including your humble diarist.

If you’re still collecting a check consider yourself fortunate,  as tense as things may be at the office.  Having a job gives you two enormous luxuries: time and money.  I was not so lucky.  I tried for many months to get a job after losing my long-held corporate gig.  I knew nothing about how to Freelance,  although I had long harbored the desire to strike out on my own.  Unfortunately,  I had to learn the hard way.  It was an expensive lesson that continues to reverberate.  On the other hand,  I am in business and somehow manage to support myself.

Self-employment is difficult in any economy.  It’s necessary to work hard and work smart,  plus be resourceful,  resilient and rather lucky.  I know a few people who are making good money,  but I’ve read that a 30%  decrease in income is typical.  Freelancers must campaign and compete for assignments and there will be gaps. 

Clients are known to pay when they feel like it and collecting in 15 – 30 days is not always possible.  Furthermore,  there are many expenses that we must shoulder:  professional training seminars,  technology and office supplies,  retirement plan,  health insurance,  life insurance  (yes, we do need it,  even if unmarried and childless).  On top of that,  we have no paid sick days,  vacation time or holidays.

But if you’re trying to explore all income generating options because unemployment checks do not last forever and you wonder if your next employer might be you,  here are a few Freelancer start-up guidelines for you to follow:

Expand your network

It’s almost impossible to secure work assignments when you’re not well-known to potential clients and there are few who can give testimonials that will vouch for your expertise.  Growing your network is the most important step you can take in preparing to become a Freelance consultant.  Ideally,  you will consult in a field and specialty where you have deep expertise and credibility. 

Immediately begin to cultivate and solidify client relationships with those who can green-light projects you would want.  Identify professional associations that cater to consultants in your industry and also seminars that clients attend and get on mailing lists,  so you’ll know where to network.  Read industry blogs and other publications,  so you will be up-to-date with important issues.

Check your credentials

Be sure that whatever competencies and qualifications,  degrees,  certificates,  licenses and/or  insurance necessary to do business are in hand.  Whatever you don’t have and can get on your employer’s dime,  take steps to do so ASAP.   Otherwise,  consider professional development expenses as a 2012 tax write-off.  If nothing else,  the improved credentials might help you get your next job if you decide to hold off going out on your own.

More next week,

Kim

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Christmas Party Networking

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Christmas season is upon us and your party invitations are in the mail.  My favorite part of Christmas is the parties and I usually have a good time.  Christmas parties are an excellent way to catch up with dear friends and meet new people as well and for those reasons they set the stage for networking.  Catch some Christmas spirit and be sure to wrangle two or three invitations (I’ll bet that will be easy for you).  As you add parties to your calendar,  give some thought to the following:

Guest list

Ask your host who’s likely to be in attendance to find out who the VIPs will be and decide whom you’d like to meet.  Do an internet search and peruse the LinkedIn page,  using what you learn to devise a savvy ice breaker plus a couple of questions that will allow your VIP to do what s/he enjoys most—talk about him/herself.  Ask the host to make introductions.  The party is social and not business,  so frame your approach as relationship building,  although it’s probably not taboo to talk a wee bit of business.  Go with the flow.  If it’s not awkward,  ask to get together after the new year to continue your business discussion.  In the second week of January,  make contact.

Respect the occasion

Be mindful that a Christmas party is a social event.  Even if the gathering is sponsored by a professional or business association,  dial back the all-business mode and get to know folks and let them get to know you,  too.  Refrain from treating a Christmas party as just another business meet ‘n’ greet.  Overt selling is to be avoided.

What not to wear

I belong to a club that hosts a black-tie optional Christmas party every year.  About half the men wear a tux.  A white dinner jacket with black tuxedo trousers is likewise very chic and appropriate attire.  A dark suit with tie is acceptable.  The ladies wear after-six formal dresses,  usually long.  A lady can also wear a tux  (work it like Marlene Dietrich).  Ladies should avoid showing too much cleavage or too much leg,  or wearing a very tight dress,  no matter how physically gifted,  when business networking is part of the agenda.

Moderate alcohol intake

 Last year,  I was invited by a friend to attend a Christmas party that was hosted by a prominent marketing company whose client list includes politicians who hold office at the state and federal level.  My friend has worked with the company off and on and he’d like to do more.   He complained that lucrative assignments had been withheld from him.   However,  as I watched him guzzle about six drinks in 90 minutes,  I wondered why they gave him any work at all.   His foolish behaviour also soured the introductions he made for me  (and I’m suffering for it,  because I don’t know anyone else to bring me back this year,  without the lush).   In other words,   make the most of your networking and pace your drinking.  Two or three drinks are all you need.  The idea is to relax and not get tanked,  or even visibly tipsy.  An unexpected VIP may walk through the door and you don’t want to look and sound ridiculous.  Moreover,  you don’t want to upset your host.

So far,  I’ve attended three Christmas parties.  I had a lovely time at each affair and I was fortunate enough to meet and enjoy the company of one person with whom I plan to follow up.  Two more parties are on my calendar and I intend to make the most of them.  

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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How You Say What You Say

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If you want to get your way,  then you must be persuasive.  To make friends is to persuade,  to receive help is to persuade,  to get a date is to persuade.  To sign a client is to persuade,  to negotiate is to persuade.  To sell any idea,  product or service is to persuade others of its relevance,  quality and value.

The ability to communicate ones’ needs,  thoughts and opinions is a cornerstone of a successful life.  It is vitally important to know what to say and how to say it as you expertly customize the message for its recipient.

I do not advocate manipulative behaviour,  however.  The idea is to get what you want in a way that creates a positive outcome,  with all parties feeling good about the exchange and no one feeling bullied,  resentful or exploited.  Persuasion is about how we frame and deliver our desires,  proposals or assertions and we must be respectful of others.

Tone of voice,  that is delivery,  is a big factor in persuasive communication.  Anger,  sarcasm and condescension are unlikely to facilitate persuasion.  Delivery that is perceived as hostile causes those on the receiving end to become defensive and mired in reacting to your style,  losing sight of your content in the process.  You’ll be treated as if you are wrong even if you are right  and you will lose.

To inspire you to pay attention to certain aspects of your communication style,  I offer here a few suggestions that will lead you to improve your powers of persuasion:

Avoid  “always”  and  “never”

Substitute  “often”  and  “rarely”  instead.  There are many people who will reject a reasonable assertion out of hand,  without taking its full measure,  when you frame and present opinions in dogmatic,  absolutist terms.

Lead with the positive

When disagreeing with another’s point of view,  it is natural for many of us to immediately,  perhaps vociferously,  take exception to that opinion or interpretation of fact.  Whenever possible,  promote persuasion by finding some common ground,  some point upon which parties can agree.  Soften your rejoinder and offer up a soupcon of validation,  maybe like this  “I know some people feel that way,  yet based on my knowledge and experience,  I’ve come to view the matter in this light…”  Call it smoothly handling an objection.

Don’t complain,  but do explain

Rather than criticize and complain that someone is wrong,  tell that person what behaviour or action is preferred or necessary and why that is so.  Reframe your complaint or criticism as a request,  delivered respectfully,  perhaps in this way  “When you arrive late to our meetings,  it makes others feel that our sharing of information is unimportant to you,  that you do not value the process.  Is the time frame inconvenient for you?  What can be done to get you here on time so that all parties can be present to address important agenda items?”

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving,

Kim

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Get Power Point Right

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All right,  we’re concluding the  “make the most of summer”  theme by taking a look at Power Point and how we can buff up our expertise.  As we all know,  a vital ongoing business goal for Freelancers is staying visible within our client and referral pool.  That means one of your objectives as we approach September and the fourth quarter is to nail down a speaking gig at a business or professional association that is frequented by potential clients and referral sources.  That could cause you to use Power Point.

The technology has been around for 20 years but most people,  including frequent users,  still get Power Point wrong.  We put too much stuff on our slides.  Someone tells us we should liven things up and recommends that we use Clip Art,  so we throw that in plus some cheesy slide transitions,  too,  to make sure that our audience stays awake.  We use too many slides because we depend on Power Point like a crutch to move our presentation along,  rather than using our words and insights to create the flow.

I understand that when teaching a course there will be perhaps many slides and more text than in a presentation for a meeting or conference.  Nevertheless,  instructors and presenters need to unchain themselves from Power Point tyranny and learn to use the technology to its full advantage.  Here are a few guidelines that will help you to finally get Power Point right:

  • Tell a compelling story that the audience will value and understand.  The story must have a beginning,  middle and end.
  • Frame the big issue that you must address at the beginning; then discuss the major challenges and opportunities that will impact that challenge; state the solution at the end.  Conclude with a summary of key points to wrap things up.
  • Distill the major points: give broad strokes and avoid complex details.
  • Sprinkle in a few relevant charts and graphs that support your story.  They also provide visual interest.
  • Use bullet points.  Communicate in short and powerful statements,  not paragraphs.
  • Do not clutter your slides with text.  Do not use  “busy”  charts or graphs.  Make the slides clear and easy to read.
  • Check your spelling and grammar.
  • Keep the fonts consistent and background colors and designs appropriate to your topic and audience.  Avoid Clip Art and distracting slide transitions.
  • Practice your presentation and ensure that your dialogue and slides work together smoothly.
  • Be enthusiastic,  be confident and engage your audience.  Have fun!

 

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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Business Books to Read Summer 2011

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Our Summer idyll will end in just a couple of weeks, but there’s still time to squeeze in some all-important professional development and maybe a meeting with a promising prospect, too.  Freelancers cannot afford to merely work hard when September rolls around.  We must also work smart.  I’m lucky to have discovered a trove of worthwhile business books that will make me smarter and I’m happy to pass along my take on what I’ve read.

The books will teach us effective ways to turn prospects into clients (sell only to VITOs),  how to devise business goals and strategies that will ensure our long-term success (because the red ocean is where you’ll drown)  and that  y=f(x) —and how to apply that formula to make both our own and our clients’ business processes operate more efficiently and profitably (what’s your sigma?).

The Borders book chain is going out of business, so why not make the most of that sad event and scoop up a few titles on the cheap? What’s not left on the shelves at Borders can be checked out of your local library.  Get started now on creating both a strong fourth quarter and laying the groundwork for a financially healthy 2012.

The Secrets of VITO: Think and Sell Like a CEO (2002)  Anthony Parinello
If Freelancers expect to convince decision-makers to award us assignments,  it is imperative that we understand what motivates them to hire us.  This astute and sophisticated book helps Freelancers understand the standard concerns,  priorities and mindset of the typical CEO or organization leader.  Learn how to win trust and convey expertise.  Learn smart ways to approach, persuade,  negotiate with and sell to those who can either veto or green-light our projects.

Blue Ocean Strategy (2005)  W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

Blue Oceans represent untapped markets and undiscovered customer preferences.  Who knew they craved Sony’s Walkman or Apple’s iPod until the marketing campaign told them so?  Red Oceans represent mature,  shrinking and highly competitive markets.  Remain there and your business will surely operate in the red and perish. This classic guide to innovative strategy development shows Freelancers,  business owners,  corporate execs and nonprofit organization leaders how to pursue fearless, rational and uncomplicated approaches that will redefine and energize strategic direction,  articulation of the value proposition, the business model and marketing.

Six Sigma for Dummies (2005)  Neil DeCarlo, Craig Gygi and Bruce Williams

Six Sigma is a highly sophisticated and exacting data-driven process improvement system that was originally designed for manufacturing companies.  However,  the system can be successfully applied to service delivery as well,  from hospitals and health clinics to restaurants and financial institutions.  Six Sigma will substantively minimize errors and inefficient practices in product manufacturing and service delivery systems.  The material is complex,  but the book is well-written and very clear.  I found that anyone whose work involves operations,  strategy or finance will benefit from exposure to the basics of Six Sigma, whether or not you become formally trained in its tenets.  You’re bound to gain useful insights on how to accurately measure, assess and streamline the delivery of your organization’s products or services.

Thanks for reading,
Kim

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Summer Reading List

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For just about all of us,  the school year Summer Break meant having fun: hanging out with friends,  going on picnics and trips to the beach,  summer camp and family vacations.  Yet Summer was not all fun.  When I reached high school,  Mom and Dad made sure I got a job every year,  so I would earn some money and learn the habit of saving when they insisted that I bank half of my paycheck each week.

Also,  students at my college-prep public high school were required to read two books  (from the school’s list)  over the Summer and submit a book report for each when we returned to school in September.  I’ve always been an avid reader,  so the reading assignment was never a chore for me  (although I disliked writing the book reports).

This year,  I decided to renew that tradition and get into some business-themed books.  It had been a while since I’d mined that category and I had the appetite to make up for lost time.  Here are three books I’ve read since June.  Maybe you’d like to suggest a few titles that you’ve found to be useful?

TouchPoints  (2011)     Douglas Conant and Mette Norgaard

Freelancers,  corporate execs,  nonprofit organization leaders and business owners all require leadership training.  This excellent and informative book provides first-rate lessons for experienced leaders and those new to the club.  Learn how to create a leadership model that reflects your unique style and values,  rather than merely mimicking a cookie-cutter template.  Learn how communication skills promote leadership skills.  Explore the existential question of why you choose to lead.

Knowing Your Value  (2011)     Mika Brzezinski

Although this book’s intent is to confirm that women deserve to receive appropriate financial reward for their professional gifts and teach them how to successfully negotiate a raise,  salary or contract fee  (and other perks)  that accurately reflect the value they bring to the organization for which they work,  I recommend this useful and enjoyable book for both genders.  The Haves are shamelessly using the weak economy to withhold money from the Have-nots and that means we all need to learn how and when and under what conditions we can respectfully request money and recognition  (plus a good title!).

Black Faces in White Places  (2011)     Randal Pinkett and Jeffrey Robinson

The title of this book is misleading.  It is not primarily a book about survival strategies designed to assist people of color who work in Euro-American dominated environments.  Randal Pinkett was the winning contestant on  “The Apprentice”  in 2005  and he is the only African-American to be named the winner.  The authors do speculate as to why no other  “Apprentice”  winner has ever been asked to consider sharing the prize.  Was it subtle racism?  Only Trump knows.  But who among us has not been treated unfairly at some point?  The authors posit that the most reliable way to triumph in life and business is to deliver excellence and that is the subject of this well-written,  dense and absorbing book.  Pinkett and Robinson  (who run a lucrative consulting firm)  provide a detailed roadmap that is applicable to Freelancers,  business owners and all professionals of all races.  Learn to identify your passions and your purpose,  nurture beneficial relationships,  develop and consistently deliver excellence and give back generously,  to pay it forward and mentor others.

I’ll be back next week with the rest of my Summer reading list.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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The Ideal Network

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We’ve all encountered people whose primary goal is to create a vast network of  “contacts”.  These folks supersize.  They have an enormous collection of Facebook friends and they exchange business cards with everyone they meet,   inviting one and all into their LinkedIn network.

But what do their  “contacts”  actually mean to them?  Do such collectors of contacts follow networking best practices and act as a resource? Would they actually even recognize many of their  “contacts”  if they ran into them at the grocery store?  Too often,  the answer is no.

I’ve had the experience of being sucked into the clutches of a few super-networkers and found that when I emailed an easy and uncomplicated question,  my inquiry went unanswered.  Needless to say I severed the association but I’m sure my absence is neither missed nor even noticed.  Who can keep track of or maintain contact with 500 connections?

Well I’m happy to report that at last there is data that supports what has long been my gut feeling about networking.  Apparently,  when it comes to our network of relationships,  size matters and smaller is better.

Robert Cross,  Associate Professor at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and Robert Thomas,  Executive Director of the global consulting firm Accenture’s Institute for High Performance,  contend that the most effective networks focus on high-quality relationships,  ideally with people who come from diverse levels of the corporate and/or socioeconomic hierarchy.  Cross and Thomas found that a properly functioning network consists of about 12-18 people.  The ideal network provides guidance,  exposes us to fresh approaches to decision-making and problem-solving,  challenges us and also gives us validation and encouragement.

A diversity of professional and personal interactions pays numerous dividends,  socially and professionally.  We get to meet and rub shoulders with those who’ve lived different lives and therefore have different values,  perspectives and experiences.  We learn how to become more flexible and resilient.  Our decision-making capabilities improve because we incorporate additional information and we become better leaders and better business people.

Take a look at who you know and who you consider to be a member of  your network.  Who looks out for you and who do you look out for?  Cross and Thomas recommend that we cultivate relationships in these categories:

  • People who share or expose you to new information or expertise,  e.g.,  giving the heads-up on happenings in your business environment.  This could be a client or someone from the chamber of commerce or other business group.
  • Peers in other industries,  who can open your eyes to what other organizations consider to be best practices or smart business strategies.
  • Powerful people,  who can open doors,  make introductions,  cut through red tape,  provide useful inside information and mentoring.
  • Those who know and validate validate your work and can provide feedback and challenge you to get better (maybe a client,  peer  or boss).
  • Peers in a business similar to your own,  but who are based in another geography and therefore allow you to discuss business strategy and not worry about competition.
  • People who provide personal support,  good friends and family you can call on when things go wrong and you need to talk.
  • Outlets for spiritual and physical well being:  fitness,  meditation,  religion,  volunteering,  sports and hobbies.

As you review and perhaps revamp your network,  look to include people who bring good energy,  people who bring out the best in you.  Build relationships with people who see opportunities and know how to reach for them.  If you’ve been gestating an important goal you’d like to achieve,  think about who in your network can help you get there?  Is there someone you should reconnect with?

Most of all,   remember that networking is about building and maintaining relationships,  whether or not there is an immediate need to call in a favor.  Reciprocity rules,  so maintain contacts,  reach out and reconnect to good friends and colleagues and be generous when they are in need.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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Present With Pizzazz

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In this column I have often urged those who want to establish themselves as experts in their chosen field to find speaking and teaching opportunities.  Getting out in front of an audience is a time-tested way to identify and impress potential clients and referral sources,  a good way to drum up business.  So maybe it’s time to review a few useful presentation techniques that will make you feel more confident and therefore more likely to pursue this strategy.

Keep it simple and tell a story

The best speakers know that the more complex the topic,  the more important to make it easy for the audience to understand.  Distill a complicated message into fewer words.  Include a personal anecdote or story that illustrates a key point you’re trying to make.  A story makes your presentation more compelling by placing the message into a context that is relevant to the audience.  A story paints a picture and helps the audience make sense of the topic.

You are the star

You are the speaker and the stage belongs to you.  Do not allow slides to upstage your talk.  How do you do that?  By not using your slides as a crutch.  By not posting your entire talk onto slides.  Avoid presenting a boat load of text-heavy slides that you read from,  instead of speaking to and connecting with those who came out for you.  

On your slides include important charts and graphs,  key statistics,  major talking points and relevant visuals that support and advance your message.  Practice your presentation often and get to know your material,  so you won’t be overly dependent on slides.

Engage and involve your audience

Most of all,  give the right talk.  Know what the audience expects you to address.  The person who schedules your talk can help you choose a topic and give you the heads-up re: big questions that audience members may want answered.  To keep your audience engaged,  pose a question or two at some point in your presentation.  Also,  be willing to answer questions as you go along and make your presentation more of a conversation with the audience.

We deliver

While good content is essential,  that alone will not win over an audience.  Body language and delivery also matter.  Audiences size up and judge a speaker within the first three minutes of a presentation.  Be sure to project confidence,  expertise,  good humor and approachability.  Smile,  make eye contact and use a pleasant,  yet authoritative,  tone of voice.  Show appropriate enthusiasm and passion for your subject matter.  Let the audience know that you like being up there speaking.  

How to get to Carnegie Hall

Practice and practice some more.  It takes a lot of work to make a presentation look effortless.  Skilled presenters give the impression that their clever ad libs and convincing responses to questions are all ex tempore,  but nothing could be further from the truth.  The fact is,  successful presentations are built on lots of preparation and rehearsal time: wordsmithing what may sound too complex or unclear,  deciding what text and visuals to include on slides,  how to integrate the slides with the talk,  anticipating questions and formulating good answers.  Read your talk out loud and record your voice,  to make sure that you pace your delivery appropriately.

An effective presentation should inform, educate and entertain.  Make that happen when you simplify your message and de-clutter your slides,  interact with the audience by asking and answering questions throughout your talk and practice a lot.  Hit your mark and the audience will regard you as an expert.  Mission accomplished.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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Strategic Volunteerism: Doing Well by Doing Good

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Within three months of losing my corporate job back in the late 90s,  I got the bright idea to plunge into volunteering. I instinctively knew that keeping my hands busy with good work and meeting new people would help keep my spirits up as I figured out my next move.

Along the way, I also learned that volunteering provides opportunities to develop new competencies or resurrect dormant skills.  Plus,  I enjoyed the camaraderie and feeling of satisfaction that grew from joining with others to advance the mission of an organization we felt provided important benefits to our community.   More than a dozen years later,  I am still in at least occasional contact with several people I met in my first significant volunteer experience.

Volunteerism is de rigueur for Freelancers,  business owners,  corporate professionals and even students seeking acceptance to prestige schools.  Consider it additionally as a pathway to creating more business or entering the C-suite.  Volunteer projects allow important others to witness first hand your talents,  professionalism,  commitment and collaborative spirit.  Volunteering is an excellent way to beef up your CV and bio,  meet prospective clients and expand your referral network.

Strategically and purposefully volunteering one’s time is an essential component of smart networking and PR strategies. Volunteer to participate in  (or sponsor)  a noteworthy community event and create the perfect reason to write a press release and alert the media to your activity.

Carefully select a volunteer opportunity that will achieve specific objectives.  To get started,  ask yourself some questions that will clarify your reasons for volunteering,  help you choose the right organization and assess how much time you can contribute:

  1. Decide what you would like to achieve.  Do you want to showcase certain talents,  develop or strengthen certain skills or boost referrals?
  2. Decide who you’d like to meet and interact with.  Do you want to develop relationships with industry peers,  or promote a cause while you meet prospects?
  3. Decide your preferred time commitment.  Can you appear at monthly meetings over a two or three year period and serve on a board of directors,  or is a short term commitment on a special project committee more suitable?

Next,  identify volunteer opportunities that will produce the desired ROI.  Whether you are most interested in professional associations or not-for-profit organizations,  investigate and ask questions.

If you are not yet a member of the professional group that has captured your interest, visit its website,  learn the purpose of the group and the types of programs it sponsors.  Attend a program,  meet members and officers and ask what they value most about membership.  Make discreet inquiries about committees/subcommittees to figure out which would best showcase or build your skills.

If you are drawn to the NFP sector,  be sure to choose an organization whose mission aligns with your interests and values.  Visit the website to find out who is on the board and check out past and upcoming events.  Attend one and meet the staff and board members you’re thinking of working with.

It’s good to first test the waters by serving on a short term special project committee,  so that you can learn useful information such as upcoming available slots on the board,  the expected financial contributions of board members and if its members are expected to sell tickets to events or recruit financial donors.

Once you’ve started your volunteer journey,  be sure that your level of participation is in line with that of other board or committee members and that the benefits you’re receiving are fulfilling your objectives.  Strategic volunteering means that you recognize volunteering is a two way street and you exchange your time,  talent and money for opportunities to highlight or strengthen your skills and make some useful contacts while you do it.

So are you meeting the right people?  Do you work on projects that interest and showcase you?  Are you having fun,  or feeling frustrated?  If it’s the latter,  do not be ashamed to resign.  There are numerous volunteer opportunities available and one,  or perhaps more,  will be a good fit for you.

Thanks for reading,

Kim