Guest Opinion: Benefit through accessibility to leaders
BY MICHELLE DeCLERCK | Founder, Conference Event Management
Editor’s Note: This piece by Michelle DeClerck is the fifth in a seven-part series focusing on the importance of community involvement and volunteering for women to grow both professionally and personally. Parts one, two, three and four are all available online. Part five focuses on how Iowa women are fortunate to be mentored by or to work beside many of the state’s top leaders.
You’ve seen it in the movies — someone wants to gain access to a corporation’s top management, and they put themselves in precarious positions to do so. But in Iowa, we have easier access to business leaders who can help develop our connections and lifelong business skills.
This is especially important to millennials, as 88 percent seek out companies that offer Corporate Social Responsibility programs (Price Waterhouse Coopers) and they are motivated when they get to work beside one of Iowa’s top leaders.
Once you get involved in a charity or volunteer activity, you’re likely to meet caring individuals who want to see the volunteer project or organization experience its most successful year or event to date. As a result, you’re likely to develop a long-lasting relationship with other volunteers who would be willing to help you succeed with your career goals.
These individuals likely have contacts within a company that you have an interest in, whether it’s for a fundraising effort, for a sales opportunity, or to be considered for a job.
From a business perspective, by volunteering you can:
- Meet advocates, mentors and potential employers.
- Gain recognition by your own management for your efforts.
- Be invited to lead other business efforts.
- Enhance relationships with co-workers.
- Build trust and your leadership reputation.
- Differentiate your resume from equally qualified candidates.
Iowa’s business leaders often enjoy involvement in charity projects, and you may find yourself swinging a hammer right next to them, or they may become aware of your contributions and even personally recognize you.
No matter how many years you’ve been in business, here are some ways you can gain greater recognition and visibility right here in Iowa:
Volunteer to be on a committee that hosts an event.
This gives you the opportunity to demonstrate how you think and react in situations. If you are performing at a high level, it’s easier to ask your fellow committee members to make business introductions for you.
This gives you the opportunity to demonstrate how you think and react in situations. If you are performing at a high level, it’s easier to ask your fellow committee members to make business introductions for you.
Take on the fundraising or sponsorship position.
This is the hardest position to fill on any committee, yet it’s the one that usually has the most access to decision-makers within organizations and where you can make numerous connections. If you like to make decisions, this also becomes the perfect position for you as you may fly solo for a while until you persuade someone to join your committee. Any successes you have are eagerly applauded by other committee members.
Sign up for community outreach at your workplace or place of worship.
Seek out mentors in small, informal ways. Great choices for mentors are men or women who inspire you, have values you admire, or have skills you would benefit from learning. Watch them react to situations and listen to how they treat people — whether you agree or don’t, you’ll be forming opinions on how you would react in those situations.
While businesses have long benefited from encouraging volunteerism among employees, don’t overlook the huge leadership benefits of unpaid volunteer opportunities and the ability to build your business intelligence.
Michelle DeClerck, a certified meeting planner, founded Conference Event Management and Financial Speakers Bureau, a woman-owned business enterprise and provider of event, conference, incentive travel and meeting experiences.
DeClerck is involved with both the Iowa Women’s Leadership Connection and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Iowa. She is working to involve college students with the Iowa Women’s Leadership Connection, and NAWBO has recognized her as one of its Woman Business Owners of the Year. She enjoys speaking on female leadership, business ownership and mentoring, and is addicted to self-help business books. DeClerck can be reached atMichelle@myCEM.com.
Trending News
