In my introductory article in this women’s leadership series, I promised to touch on how personal enrichment is one of the major benefits derived from your dedication of volunteer time and talent. The more you are involved in developing programs to help others, the greater the personal benefit can be.

Examples of those benefits include:

• Making new friends.
• Satisfaction and sense of achievement in making a difference.
• Gradually and naturally developing your leadership skills.
• Building self-esteem and self-confidence through speaking opportunities.
• Receiving positive recognition and promotion within your organization.
• Feeling a sense of accomplishment in trying something new or challenging.

Whether you are asked to make a few phone calls or run errands to support an effort, join the executive committee, or step up as a member of a working board, it’s impossible not to benefit from your time commitment.

I recently launched Mentor Tank to help advance the careers of young women by providing access to established women business leaders in Central Iowa. I certainly don’t need another volunteer activity, but I love giving advice (my children know this comes even if unwanted). The personal satisfaction I receive knowing I impact the career paths of students in some way drove me to create a forum where others receive real-life advice from those of us who have “been there, done that.”        

In “The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business,” Susan Slovic emphasizes that female entrepreneurs are rewarded by their ability to give back and how they view philanthropy as a top priority — 92 percent give back, compared with 88 percent of male-owned businesses.

Women business owners also write larger checks and devote more time to charity work. Slovic goes on to quote DSC Logistics CEO Ann Drake when discussing why women don’t go in business — “Women don’t see business as a way to help the world. If you have money, then you can influence the world and have the money to spend on the world.”

This book was a real eye-opener for me to realize that being successful allows me to support my favorite causes.   

It’s no cliche — you really do get out of it what you put into it. Volunteer to continually build your leadership skills, and don’t forget to thank the person who trusted in your abilities to help their cause.

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.