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
