Professionals should get involved with nonprofit organizations.  Normally these organizations bring with them such a great cause that it will do your heat good to get involved.  This is one of the best places to hone your management skills.  Nonprofit management requires the highest level of leadership and soft skills because there is no formal authority or reward structures such as bonus, or salary.  People will help only if they feel drawn to a cause.

Do you feel you have the stuff to lead organizations but are not given the opportunity in your workplace?  A wonderful place to hone these skills are in not-for-profit organizations.  These organizations are looking for someone like you to help out.

Some organizations that could use your help are:

• local hospital fund raisers
• church groups
• boys and girls clubs
• PMI
• IIBA
• Parent associations at schools
• Sports Clubs

If you can develop your leadership style in these groups and have results, you will find leading in an organization gets a lot easier.

Let’s take the example of the local hockey associations.  Very little of these associations are paid staff.  Our local hockey association would serve hundreds of families and would have volunteer coaches, managers, administrators, VP positions, and board members.  The coaches need to make sure the kids are having fun and learning and also spend time with parents who may or may not have realistic expectations.  What a great place to hone some leadership skills!

Use the comment section below to share your favorite place to work on your leadership skills.

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Ron is a Project Manager and occasional blogger with Chalder Consulting Inc. www.chalder.ca

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/rondsmith

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