Volunteering increases leadership skills according to survey
Some of the country’s top business leaders believe volunteering improves their skills and makes them more effective in their work.
A survey by the charity Pilotlight, which matches business leaders with charities, found 90% of senior business executives who have been through their skills sharing programme said engaging with charities improved their sense of wellbeing and happiness.
The findings also show that although eight in 10 senior executives got involved with charities to give something back, nearly two-thirds found it increased their own job satisfaction.
The survey of over 130 Pilotlight business members across England and Scotland found that over a third of people who volunteered through their company had been actively encouraged by their employer to get involved.
Coming on the eve of #GivingTuesday, a global campaign to encourage people to get involved with charities, the survey reveals that two-thirds of business people said volunteering had increased their desire to donate, while 87% said they were more interested in becoming a charity trustee.
There is a wealth of research pointing to the personal benefits of altruism
Pilotlight’s chief executive Gillian Murray said: “Some 85% of business leaders in our survey said they had improved their coaching skills after working with charities and have a much better understanding of the charity sector as well.
“The survey results demonstrate that a carefully managed approach to skills sharing allows the time-poor, skills-rich professional to engage with charities in an effective and meaningful way.”
More than 95% of those questioned said that volunteering with Pilotlight had increased their understanding of the challenges facing people in need and their appreciation of the work of charities and social enterprises.
Dr Beth Breeze, director of the Philanthropy Centre at the University of Kent, added: “There is a wealth of research pointing to the personal benefits of altruism - from physiological benefits to the cardiovascular and nervous system, to social benefits such as larger friendship groups, to ‘ultimate benefits' such as a greater sense of life satisfaction.
“Most volunteers intuitively know this to be true - while observers only see them giving, the volunteer is aware how much they are also receiving."
