Here's how you can effectively manage your time as an executive in the volunteering industry.

From a productivity stand point, it's important one understands their contribution from the start. That way, it is easy to clearly allocate time and deliver efficiently. This goes hand in hand with communication. If situations arise where you might come short, it makes sense to communicate to all concerned parties.

As someone who has experience managing a busy workload, I can confidently say that prioritization is the key to successful and efficient work. Identifying and focusing on the tasks that align with the organization's goals and have the highest impact allows me to make strategic and productive decisions. Using a prioritization matrix helps me categorize tasks based on urgency and importance, ensuring that I'm addressing critical needs while still leaving room for strategic planning and development. Balancing urgent and strategic tasks is a balancing act, but it ensures that my efforts are sustainable and valuable to the organization's long-term success.

Identify the volunteer work that resonates with your personal goals and invest your abilities as though it's your project. This strategy will not only empower you but also pave the way for the opportunities you aspire to unlock.

One thing I've learnt over the years is that, I start with the hardest of activities and usually, when I am done with them, the other activities become way easier. Also, prioritize starting early too. When you start early, you discover that your work for that day will be done before midday and you will have all the time for yourself.

I always felt the need to DO IT ALL on my OWN, little did I realize it reflected poorly on how I lacked in my ability to inspire others and my inability to trust them to do equally well or better than me on the team. Being part of a social experiment like the LUD Triennial International Conference in the midst of the Pandemic in November 2020 taught me to DELEGATE! For all its trauma, Covid actually instilled in me the need to learn from younger-tech-savvy Volunteers and more importantly NOT to JUDGE others; all of us were in a unique spot-frustrated yet forgiving, distant yet present, restless yet hopeful. Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In is a book that gave me the confidence to DELEGATE. I wish to get better at it.

I agree , divide and conquer. This allows each member to use their strengths to complete the task in a timely manner. It can also provide team members to ask for additional support during check in time .

I firmly believe that delegation is crucial for effective team management, but delegating wisely is paramount. When we delegate wisely, it means we're not just giving out tasks; we're also showing that we trust our team members. We want them to learn and grow, and we know they have skills that can help us succeed. This approach not only enhances individual growth and development but also strengthens the overall capacity and resilience of our team, enabling us to tackle challenges and seize opportunities with confidence and agility. In essence, wise delegation is a cornerstone of effective leadership and team dynamics, driving positive outcomes and sustainable success in our volunteering initiatives.

delegate effectively," I mean that you should be able to assign tasks and responsibilities to others in a way that maximizes efficiency and productivity. 1. Identify strengths: Understand the strengths and skills of your team members. Delegate tasks that align with their expertise and abilities. 2. Communicate clearly: Clearly communicate your expectations and provide clear instructions when assigning tasks. Make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. 3. Trust and empower: Trust your team members to complete their assigned tasks. Provide them with the necessary resources and support to succeed. Empower them to make decisions and take ownership of their work.

Delegating is not just handing over tasks. It’s empowering your staff to learn and grow. Our real job as managers or executives is to build a team that is much smarter and capable than we are, and will be OK if we’re not there. The only way they get good at making decisions and handling things is for us to push them out of the nest and let them do it. Our job is to remove barriers and provide them all the support they need to excel and then give them all the credit. Delegating at its core is empowerment! it also shows that you trust them. And that trust will go along way to building their confidence to do bigger and greater things.

Leveraging technology is essential for streamlining processes and optimizing time management in the volunteering sector. Utilize project management tools, communication platforms, and scheduling software to facilitate collaboration, coordinate activities, and track progress effectively. Explore automation solutions to eliminate repetitive tasks and enhance efficiency across your organization. However, it's crucial to balance technological solutions with human interaction and maintain a human-centric approach to leadership in the volunteering industry.

A tecnologia deve ser usada de forma inteligente e eficiente. Mas de nada adiantam ferramentas excelentes, sem alinhamento e diálogo entre o time.

A tecnologia desempenha um papel crucial nas organizações, impactando todas as fases, desde a concepção até a execução e entrega ao cliente. É inegável os benefícios da tecnologia que podem possibilitar inovação e a adaptação rápida às mudanças do mercado e às necessidades dos clientes.

Digital Calendars and Reminders: Use digital calendars (like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook) to schedule your tasks, meetings, and volunteer commitments. Set reminders to stay on track. Task Management Apps: Consider using task management apps (such as Todoist or Asana) to organize your to-do lists. These apps allow you to prioritize tasks, set deadlines, and collaborate with others. Communication Platforms: Leverage communication tools (like Slack or Microsoft Teams) to stay connected with your team. Efficient communication helps streamline volunteer efforts. Automation: Explore automation tools. For instance, automate repetitive tasks (such as sending thank-you emails to volunteers) using email templates or chatbots.

When I talk about "using technology," I mean taking advantage of all the amazing tools and apps available to help you stay organized and boost your productivity. 1. Task management apps: There are plenty of task management apps out there that can help you keep track of your to-do lists, set reminders, and prioritize your tasks. Some popular options include Todoist, Trello, and Asana. 2. Communication tools: Use messaging apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams to stay connected with your team members and volunteers. These platforms allow for quick and easy communication, file sharing, and collaboration.

Remember the following: You're volunteering above and beyond your busy daily schedule. Be forgiving of yourself; if this year's fundraising efforts are lower than last year's, remember that you're doing what you're capable of in a given moment. You're choosing to be that 10 percent of people who takes action to help instead of just complaining about everything that's wrong in the world. Be ambitious for causes you're passionate about...but cut yourself a break as well.

Learning to say NO has and continues to be one of the best Boundaries I put into practice! For much of my life, I would always worry about hurting the feelings of others by saying no. But today I encourage myself and others that the best Boundaries begin within!

As an executive in the volunteering industry, setting boundaries is essential to prevent burnout and maintain work-life balance. Establish clear boundaries around your availability, both in terms of time and communication, to protect your personal time and well-being. Communicate these boundaries to your team members and stakeholders, encouraging respect for your time and promoting a culture of balance within the organization. Regularly reassess and adjust boundaries as needed to ensure sustainability and effectiveness in your role.

Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It means establishing limits and guidelines for yourself and others to ensure that you have time for your personal life and well-being. 1. Learn to say no: It's okay to decline requests or tasks that don't align with your priorities or capacity. Be assertive and communicate your limitations respectfully. 2. Prioritize your time: Identify your most important tasks and allocate time specifically for them. Avoid overcommitting yourself and focus on what truly matters. 3. Communicate your boundaries: Clearly communicate your availability, working hours, and expectations to colleagues, volunteers, and stakeholders. Let them know when you are and aren't available.

I make myself available for volunteers and staff within reasonable hours. Boundaries are effective if you do not break them! I let them know, I am here for them they can leave me a text, email, or message if I don't answer and I will get back to them as soon as possible and I do! This creates respect, and care and reiterates the boundaries to not get calls after hours. The same goes for the other boundaries and expectations of the volunteer program. They know I will get back to them and I respect their boundaries and preferences as well.

When it comes to scheduling downtime, it's all about intentionally carving out time for yourself to relax, recharge, and do activities that bring you joy. 1. Block off time: Just like you schedule work tasks and appointments, block off specific time slots in your calendar for downtime. Treat it as a non-negotiable commitment to yourself. 2. Find activities you enjoy: Think about activities that help you unwind and recharge. It could be reading a book, taking a walk, practicing a hobby, or simply spending quality time with loved ones. Make sure to prioritize these activities during your scheduled downtime.

Scheduling downtime is crucial for recharging and maintaining peak performance as an executive in the volunteering sector. Block out time in your schedule for rest, relaxation, and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment outside of work. Prioritize self-care practices such as exercise, mindfulness, and spending time with loved ones to replenish your energy and prevent burnout. By prioritizing your well-being, you'll be better equipped to lead with clarity, creativity, and resilience in the fast-paced environment of the volunteering industry.

For sure this is very important. Sometimes we can get so into the work that we forget to take personal time or recharge. Self care is as importante as normal work.

Take your breaks! A brief reset and recharge does wonders for the mind and body. Work will still be there it's not going anywhere. We ask our volunteers to be mindful in every project and visit they make but we too need to lead by example. Speaking of I am going to sign off and have a piece of fruit outside away from my desk.

En mi experiencia, cuanto más nos conozcamos a nosotros mismos, mejor optimizaremos nuestro tiempo: hay gente que trabaja mejor a unas horas concretas o con un ambiente determinado. Si somos capaces de identificar eso, nos ayudará a poder programar mejor nuestro tiempo y respetar el descanso.

Regular reflection is essential for personal and professional growth as an executive in the volunteering sector. Set aside time to reflect on your achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement, both individually and as a team. Use techniques like journaling, self-assessment, and feedback from peers and mentors to gain insights and identify opportunities for development. Embrace a growth mindset and view setbacks as learning experiences, leveraging them to refine your leadership approach and drive positive change within your organization.

A reflexão é a chave para uma boa gestão no voluntariado. Uma boa organização de ideias e gestão de tempo eficientes potencializam o trabalho em equipe e auxiliam para um voluntariado bem sucedido!

Busque separar o quanto de tempo você dedicará para as atividades de voluntariado. Essa separação te permitirá uma melhor gestão dos seus processos e de suas tarefas!

All of the above are important to be effective. Beyond these you need to listen to your teams and not make decisions for them. Focus on asking open ended questions that allow them to come to their own resolutions. If there is critical detrimental risk step in with guidance to help navigate to a more appropriate path. This will help develop trust within the team and ultimately provide growth needed for individuals by helping them find their strengths and weaknesses through self assessment. Ultimately more confident and knowledgable teams function more efficiently allowing you to focus and manage your time more effectively.

Las actividades de voluntariado no deben ser realizada por oibligación -tal cual su nombre lo indica. Obligar a personas a participar de una de ellas puede ser cintraproducente, más aún si lo hacen en una actividad que no es atractiva para ellas.Y quizá ahí recaiga la clave si uno piensa en incorporar a mas personas en actividades que, para uno, sí pueden ser atractivas. No presione, comente qué se hace y cómo contribuye a usted como persona y como profesional y a la sociedad en su conjunto. No es necesario que lo acompañe a usted, la diversidad en tipos de voluntarriado es tan grande que, al menos una calzará en los intereses de un cercano; cuando no dos o más.

Siempre tener comunicación de todo, tanto con los jefes como con compañeros de trabajo sobre las actividades a realizar y hacer retroalimentación de actividades pasadas, todo con el fin de crecer como organización y no tomarlo como ataque o critica.