When you launch your consulting practice there are obvious marketing tactics and strategies that make sense. You create and build your brand, start networking, write articles and get speaking gigs. You join some professional organizations where you can meet clients and referral sources. But why would you want to offer your time for free as a volunteer to those organizations and other non-profits?

In this blog post we review why volunteering can help you become a better consultant, give back to worthy causes and grow your consulting business. In addition, we offer some tips on being a successful volunteer and what to look for when you choose your volunteer opportunities to ensure a positive experience.

This article is the second in a series designed to help our member consultants maximize the value they add to their clients and their professional development.

Why Consultants Might Consider Volunteering

Does this sound familiar? You’ve joined some organizations, perhaps to learn, network with other members, and increase your visibility. You build out your profile, attend events, get on Zoom calls, and attend a conference. You have hopes of getting referrals and business from the people you meet. But it’s been a while, and you’re not getting much in the way of results. How do you break through, get noticed and get a return on your investment?

It’s difficult to showcase your knowledge and skills just by writing about it or telling people. It’s much better to show them through client testimonials or showcase your skills, knowledge and professionalism by volunteering.

Showcase Your Consulting Knowledge and Skills

As a volunteer, you showcase your knowledge and skills and give back to an organization. You prove that you have skills in the volunteer roles that fit you, whether it be marketing, accounting, IT, recognition, leadership, training and more. If your skills fit a role that is critical to the organization, you will be much more visible to the organization leadership and perhaps other members.

Learn New Skills, Access New Tools and Methodologies

Beyond the visibility volunteering can give you, each volunteer role is an opportunity to learn. Your leadership skills will increase. If you are on a committee or team, you may learn and use new technologies you hadn’t yet heard of or had time to implement. And, naturally, as you attend working meetings and meetings for volunteers, your network will expand.

Expand Your Network to a New Level

When you volunteer for some non-profit charities, you may have access to local or national business and community leaders that you would never meet otherwise. Because you are committed to the same cause, you have a connection that is about giving back and making a difference. This is a unique point of connection that can build a very strong bond.

Tips to Make Your Volunteer Experience More Successful

Choose your volunteer opportunity carefully. Find out as much as you can about the organization and its leaders. Get as much information as possible about how a team, committee, board or other structure operates. Learn about the culture and financial health of the organization. Does the organization have written volunteer descriptions, or might your volunteer role and committee or team be open to scope changes and more work than you anticipated?

Set boundaries. Your time spent volunteering must be balanced with other obligations: family, paying client work, hobbies and others. Be very clear about how much time you have to spend and the work you will do as a volunteer.

Treat your volunteer organization as you would a consulting client. Bring your best game to the table and showcase your skills. Openly share your consulting models, tools, methodologies and frameworks. The organization and its people will be better for it. They’ll appreciate the more you give.

Showcase the IMC USA Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct in your volunteer activity. Chances are that the organization didn’t think of establishing codes for ethics and conduct. It’s a non-profit and for a good cause! Why would anyone behave in an undesirable way, have a conflict of interest or not be transparent?

Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Non-profit organizations have problems. Don’t expect the volunteer experience to be smooth sailing, although in some organizations the volunteer experience is an absolute delight. If problems arise let the organization know but research and provide a possible solution as well. Don’t’ get mired in negativity and a can’t-do mentality.

Serve your entire term. Unless a situation you encounter as a volunteer is a threat to your or others’ well-being, don’t give up. Finish your term and decide if you need to seek other opportunities. If you do need to look elsewhere, inform the organization what issues you observed and why you had to leave.

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, IMC USA has opportunities on its marketing, education, certification, membership, conference and awards committees. If you’d like to volunteer, comment below or email [email protected].

Additonal Reading about Professional Volunteering:

Building Your Professional Network? Volunteering Can Help, by Dr. Jairo Borja

The Value of Professional Volunteerism, by Michael Timmes, Forbes Councils Member

About the Author

Jen Beever Causey CMC®, MBA is a Certified Management Consultant specializing in strategic and digital marketing. she currently serves on the Marketing Committee of IMC USA. She has held various positions in for professional associations including IMC USA, The Association for Corporate Growth, The Association for Strategic Planning, Provisors, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity Ventura County and The World Affairs Council of Ventura County. She served as Marketing Chair on the Association for Strategic Planning Board and one term on IMC USA’s Board of Directors. Jen specializes as the “CMO for Hire for Geeks, Scientists and Engineers” to increase awareness, generate marketing leads and increase revenues.