Module 2: "Unprofessionalism" is a Problem
Who, me? With your excitement about volunteering and making a difference, it’s all too easy to skim over information regarding volunteer ethics and professionalism. Most volunteers, after all, are uncommonly conscientious, highly motivated, and service-oriented, and certainly don’t consider themselves prone to or even capable of unprofessional behavior. And yet, unprofessional behavior is a problem amongst volunteers; indeed, it is widespread and consequential. Some cases of unprofessionalism are extreme (e.g. disobeying policies and procedures), but most are unintentional, subtle, and seemingly benign (e.g. throwing on your scuffed sneakers and wrinkled button-down shirt thinking nobody will notice). Examples of unprofessional behavior that are particularly pertinent to volunteering include showing up late or not at all; leaving early; inappropriate dress; violation of cultural norms; being overly demanding; laziness; negligence; unreliability; a condescending, disrespectful, or arrogant attitude; and noncompliance with direction. Volunteers may unconsciously exhibit offensive, unprofessional behavior. No volunteer is immune to unprofessionalism. Luckily, with proper preparation and vigilance, all volunteers are also capable of ethical, professional conduct.
It is difficult to imagine how a wrinkled shirt, or missing a scheduled screening or education event could have a lasting impact. Because your presence is relatively brief and transient, you may think that the impact of your work is fleeting as well. While for you, volunteering will likely be one of many profound, enlightening experiences, your presence is an impactful event for those receiving screenings and health information, as well as for the hosting community center. All of your actions, good or bad, will be scrutinized, and their effects will be magnified and remembered long after you leave.
The saliency of your actions as a volunteer is certain, so it is important to consider how you and your work will be remembered. Unprofessional behavior will not only be magnified and enduring, but its effects far-reaching. In addition to representing yourself, you represent the nonprofit that you are working with, all future volunteers, your university, and students as a whole. Any unprofessional conduct would thus reflect poorly on and could damage the reputation of the organization. Additionally, it would reflect poorly on student volunteers as a whole. All volunteers should realize that volunteering is a privilege, and that it must be approached with the same level of professionalism as a job.
Chrissy Weeks, the President of the Georgia Association of Paralegals, has extensive experience with volunteers and has the following to share about professional conduct:
"I have people sign up for things and then they do not show up! One “volunteer” had the audacity to say “oh, I didn’t realize me not showing up (or even bothering to call you and tell you I was not coming) was a problem.” I had another person tell me that she was confused and was not sure if she was needed. How confusing is: be at this address at 10am...Well of course it is a problem if you do not show! I now know to pad my volunteers b/c I would rather have too many volunteers. But if too many volunteers simply flake out and think that their participation does not matter for any given event then I am in real trouble. It makes me look bad. When in reality it should be the “volunteer” who looks bad. I dream of posting a volunteer black list. But I am a southerner and still have a few [manners] left. So I don’t post it. But I do keep that list in my head."(1)
Go To Module 3: Common Causes of Unprofessionalism >>
Footnotes
(1) Weeks, Chrissy. “Volunteers Who Do Not Show” Tactical Philanthropy. (November 2007) Accessed on 3/24/09 <http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/11/volunteers-who-do-not-show>