Don’t Despair! Managing isolation in Volunteer Management.

 

Don’t Despair! Managing isolation in Volunteer Management.

I have been a Volunteer Manager for 26 years now. I still love this career. It’s almost like a vocation. But do you know that I nearly once quit the entire sector after 4 years in Volunteer Management.

As most of you reading this, lead or work with volunteers I can assume that most of you are the only person responsible for your volunteer program in your organisation. Others may be in Volunteer management teams in large volunteer involving organisations.

After 4 years, while at an awards ceremony, I made up my mind to quit this job and sector back then.

Back then

·         I felt isolated as a manager. It’s hard to have a peer group of other managers who don’t manage volunteers in the organisation I work with.

·         Why am I treaded a bit different to other managers?

·         Why on Earth do I report to the Marketing Department?

·         I’d never even heard of a Volunteer Manager Sector or Network.

·         Gee, this feels like an isolating job.

Then I heard of a fella called Andy Fryar. The first time I was at a National Conference of volunteering and Andy was a plenary speaker as President of Volunteering Australia I was looking forward to his talk. When they announced his name I expected a guy in a business suit, neat, the corporate type. But up to the stage this man walked. My assumption of him was so wrong. I can’t recall what he was wearing but I do remember the ponytail. My first thought was “Hippy?” He will laugh reading this now. But the man who took the microphone spoke to us and not at us. He spoke with clarity and wisdom in a confident but so relaxed manner. He had created one of the best hospital volunteer programs in Australia. Andy Fryar was one of us.

Later Andy was one of the co - creators of the Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management. I attended and I came back and decided to stay in the sector because the Retreat moved me profoundly. At the Retreat I met people who considered themselves as professionals. We attended advance Volunteer Masterclasses and then met in intimate support circles. It was powerful and has changed my life.

Today, I love my profession. I get regularly invited to speak at organisations and panels. I was a member of the Co-design team of the New National Strategy and proudest of all I was a faculty member of the Retreat on two occasions. My simple Blog has had close to half a million page visits. I am still learning. It never ends but the journey can be awesome!

I write this because if you feel isolated at work; we have your back. If you are new there is so much out there on the internet to help you learn now. There are networks everywhere when you look. Visit Volunteer Engagement Professionals - connection & camaraderie

There you will find over a thousand people who are learners, newbies, older and wiser folk like me who has made mistakes and keep learning every day, Consultants, Specialists, Authors, Speakers, Trainers, Bloggers, YouTubers, Podcasters, Thought Leaders, Strategists, Brave leaders, Authentic and Mindful leaders.

If you are on the verge of quitting only you can make the decision. You will be great at anything you put your heart into. Find your bliss and if it is in our sector seek us out. We are here the help. We are helping others help. International Volunteer Managers Day