If you have free time and some
skills to share then the best place to utilise these would be in the third
sector. We have a whole host of volunteers who can vouch for this. I’m often
approached by professional analysts who have the skills but lack experience in
the third sector. The first question is what’s it like to work in the third
sector? How is it different from me using my skills in my every day job? Well
the good news is, OR is one of the most adaptable disciplines out there, so the
way in which you use your skills doesn’t change that much. It’s more about the
context in which you utilise your skills. You’ll find that working in the third
sector needs a personable approach. The approach is reciprocated, and as a
result, taking on a Pro Bono OR project will certainly help you refine your
interpersonal skills.
The sector, the organisation, the
project, are all brought together because of an unprecedented amount of
dedication which is something that’s not guaranteed anywhere else. Charity Founders
put everything they have into the set-up, charity workers are endlessly
creative and innovative, and volunteers (in any context) dedicate time that
could be spent doing literally anything else, except they don’t, they choose to
work for a good cause for free; so regardless of what role you play in the
third sector, you’re likely to have something in common with the rest of the
busy bees. The third sector can be bursting with mutual respect, something that
isn’t guaranteed anywhere else.
Dedication is defined as the
quality of being ‘devoted or committed to a task or purpose,’ and it is this
commitment which is often praised, however, there’s often motivation behind the
dedication to see results, and in the third sector this is frequently down to
the mission and objectives. Most of our day-to-day projects are about getting
the job done in order to cross it off the to-do list, this is still true of the
third sector, nevertheless, the difference is that finishing a project means we
are able to see what the effects of this project are (effect on service users,
donors, clients, workers, the sector as a whole) and allows us to make plans to
spread good news and successful results. In the third sector we have a habit of
thinking if 20 people befitted from a project then how can we do it again to
make 40 people benefit, and what are the restrictions preventing 100 or 1000
people reaping the benefits. If you’ve ever completed a Pro Bono OR project
then this point is important, the work you do on a project, whether it be 6
months ago or 6 years ago, is still providing benefits today. Organisations use
your insight to provide clarity and grow stronger, without the insight or the
tools you provided, progress may not have been conceivable.
In the third sector, the
motivation that encourages us to look past the finish line of a project is the mission
and vision a charitable organisation. Whilst a mission statement informs us of
what the organisation wants to do, the vision statement outlines where the
organisation wants to get to. A good vision statement will tell us where the organisation
is going, and it’s the thing to return to whenever clarity is needed at the
time of defining objectives.
With motivation in mind, it is important
to refer to an organisations mission, vision and objectives when you complete a
Pro Bono OR application form. Regardless of whether your approach to the
project will work or not, the organisation will be reluctant to work with
someone who hasn’t used their values as motivation for your approach. Taking a
tailored approach to cater for the needs of an organisation is what gets you
hired. Although an organisation has requested help, that’s not to say that they
don’t already have strong in-house skills. I suggest you find out what they are
during your research and initial meeting with the organisation, then you can
utilise them. Some charities may not have sustainable measuring and evaluation
tools in place, but what they do have is plenty of experience at national and
grassroots levels. You can identify what experience the charity has during
research and your initial meeting. Maybe Julius Cesar was right when he said ‘experience
is the teacher of all things.’ I’ll let you be the judge of that.
