From Crisis to Growth: Why you Should be Volunteering your Expertise

Things are going to get harder and more people are going to lose their jobs. It will also be hard for consultancies and freelancers. Panic and worry is the first thing we’ll all do. The 2nd thing we should do is become part of the solution.

This is not the time to be bombarding businesses to sell yourself, this is a time to help the organisations that matter to you. Volunteer your expertise, offer pro bono services, share your lessons. Charities and foundations are going to struggle mightily this year to get donations. Any business dependant on tourism has been hit with a hurricane. Community organisations — both private and public — can’t do what they do in this current emergency. Higher education has had to flip its model completely. Entertainers have had their lifelines cut.

It is a hard realization that our team and my family came to after being fed up about being stressed and feeling useless. Instead we can embody the values that matter to us. This is your opportunity to reach out and help in ways you always dreamed that you could… and now can. The clients will come back but opportunities like these are rare and will be what you’ll remember when you look back.

How to volunteer your services and deliver impact effectively

1. To succeed you need to separate your past from your future: a) Your past self — i.e. what you have accomplished and what you are known for; b) You future, intentional self — i.e. Who you believe you are and the role you want to play within your community.
2. First, ask yourself: “When is it that I deliver the most impact to my team? To my employer/team? To my community?”
3. Which of these define who you were in the past and no longer want to be? Which and which are representative of your potential and how you want to contribute to your employer/team/community?
4. Find the one that would be the elevator pitch for the future you: “Hi i’m ________ and I deliver impact by ______”
5. Your pitch needs proof points: In one sentence demonstrate how you have delivered this impact before.
6. Who are you trying to help? You need to isolate specific organisations or businesses who you are passionate about helping. Create three lists: 1) Your dream list; 2) List of local organisations who do similar work to your dream list but are local; 3) List of organsations who you have contacts at.
7. And lastly, your pitch needs relevancy: Who are you trying to help and why? Demonstrate a passion and understanding for the particular challenges a decision maker in you target industry/organisation is facing.

Good luck!