Spring Into Action: Grow Your Skills While Giving Back

Volunteering offers many health and wellness benefits for the individual. But there is also the added benefit of gaining a boost in self-confidence from soft skills learned through community service. Volunteering provides opportunities to learn and practice skills that might not necessarily be things an individual has done before, which can help build skills for a resume. Through these experiences, individuals gain skills such as adaptability, teamwork, empathy, communication, and leadership to grow into a more versatile person.

Adaptability

Adaptability allows an individual to shift focus without exhibiting frustration when plans change. A volunteer could arrive ready to restock shelves at a food pantry, only to find a water main break, and now the priority of the day shifts to cleaning up after the flood. Being flexible can be hard to do, especially when we have expectations in our mind for things to go as planned. However, each experience strengthens the ability to accept things as they are and look for creative solutions when plans have to change quickly.

Teamwork

Volunteering brings a variety of people together from all walks of life who might not otherwise meet. When functioning well, each team member shares their unique skills or knowledge to achieve a goal. Teamwork is built on shared objectives, listening to the group, and identifying who has the ability to support the mission. When people combine their strengths to achieve a shared goal, they can create some amazing results, often better than if they worked on it alone. Each opportunity to work on a team serves as a lesson in appreciation for the skills others have.

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to see a perspective from someone else’s point of view or situation. Volunteering in the community with people who live different lives and face different challenges calls for individuals to listen, consider different perspectives, and increase their sensitivity. Being in contact with a cross-section of the community with unique hurdles helps an individual to center their attention around someone or something other than themselves to make a positive change.

Communications

Being a good communicator requires sharing information clearly and effectively, but it isn’t limited verbal or written communication. Volunteering provides opportunities to practice active listening skills and ask questions to understand others. Using empathy, individuals can apply different ways to connect with various audiences. Each encounter with other volunteers or community stakeholders strengthens connections and understanding, which is the key to good communication.

Leadership

Leadership is more than just authority or a position held. It involves a combination of clear communication and collaboration with others to help a group grasp a shared vision and stay on track. Volunteers and volunteer leadership roles are part of the strategy to make change happen in the community, and individuals help deliver these outcomes each time they serve in a leadership position. From leading a team of people to organizing events, each experience strengthens your ability to execute a plan, as well as your ability to make an impact through others.

Volunteering is more than a kind act of giving back to the community. It is a way to enrich the personal and professional lives of individuals while working to make a difference. Whether you have one hour or several weeks to spare, look for an opportunity that could benefit your community and yourself.

by Tracy Hemsath, Volunteer Leadership and Development Agent, 2026