Learning through volunteering is one great reward. It is nothing less, in fact, than all the 21st-century skills we can gain as volunteers which we would otherwise need to pay for in a corporate environment. Besides the most obvious benefits, i.e. professional development in ELTAs and working with exceptional colleagues, skills development should also be mentioned. Because most ELTAs are volunteer-driven learning communities, there are no paid positions to execute the jobs, therefore teachers who volunteer have to learn and do everything. In these volunteer positions, we know very quickly how to create a budget, run meetings, negotiate with others (often with external stakeholders), keep the books, edit journals, and the list is endless. Apart from these, volunteers also
benefit from developing academic skills, how to write, and how to get published, depending upon the stage of one’s career.
Soft skills are a crucial area, too. For instance, being responsible, being dependable, delegating, sharing work, overseeing, making sure that things are done and being tactful are all important soft skills. Therefore, people skills or interpersonal skills can be the main facet and, just as well as networking, social connections and the career opportunities that come along are also honoured. Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to effectively communicate, interact, and collaborate with others. These skills include active listening, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, empathy, teamwork, negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership.
On the other hand, intrapersonal skills relate to one's ability to understand and manage oneself. These skills involve self-awareness, emotional intelligence, self-regulation, motivation, resilience, and introspection. Intrapersonal skills are crucial for personal development, self-improvement, and maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Both sets of skills are essential for success in various aspects of life, including personal relationships, professional environments, and individual growth. Another asset is the natural process of leadership development which comes along inadvertently, often supported by mentoring or coaching, or at turning points in educators’ careers, from learning to teaching; from teacher to teacher trainer, from journal editor to materials writer, and so on, on the teacher career ladder. If we look deep and hard into ourselves and remember our very first attempts to present, to guide others, we recognise how much we have progressed over the years. This gives us the confidence and encouragement to mentor or coach younger colleagues and help them become the best possible selves of themselves.
The development of effective management and leadership prowess refers to the process of acquiring and honing the skills, knowledge, and qualities necessary to excel in managerial and leadership roles. It involves cultivating a range of competencies that enable individuals to effectively lead teams, drive organizational success, and inspire others to perform at their best.
Some key components of developing effective management and leadership prowess could be strategic thinking, communication skills, decision-making, emotional intelligence, team building and motivation, adaptability and change management, problem-solving, ethical leadership, delegation and empowerment, and continuous learning and development. Developing effective management and leadership prowess is an ongoing journey that requires self-reflection, learning from experiences, seeking mentorship, and actively working on improving oneself as a leader and manager.
In a learning organization, intrinsic benefits refer to the internal rewards and motivations that individuals experience as a result of engaging in learning and personal growth within the organizational context. These benefits contribute to employees' sense of fulfilment, satisfaction, and well-being, ultimately fostering a positive organizational culture. Some intrinsic benefits in a learning organization include a sense of purpose, personal growth, increased motivation, autonomy, a sense of achievement, innovation and creativity, collaboration and teamwork, adaptability and resilience, a positive work environment, employee engagement and retention. Overall, intrinsic benefits in a learning organization contribute to higher employee satisfaction, engagement, and performance, ultimately driving organizational success and competitiveness in the long run.
Volunteering in learning organizations comes with various responsibilities, as individuals contribute their time, skills, and efforts to support the organization's mission of promoting learning and development. Some accompanying responsibilities of volunteering in learning organizations include commitment, professionalism, reliability, collaboration, adherence to policies and procedures, flexibility, feedback and reflection, respect for diversity and inclusion, etc. By fulfilling these responsibilities, volunteers play a vital role in supporting the learning organization's mission and making a positive impact on the individuals and communities it serves.
About Beatrix Price
Beatrix works as a teacher and a teacher trainer at the Language Pedagogy Department, School of English and American Studies, ELTE university, Budapest. She has extensive experience in teaching both children and adult learners. Her current PhD explored EFL teachers’ continuing professional development supported by teachers’ associations.
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