1. Energy: Great volunteers hit the ground running. They are fantastic people to work with as they exude energy and approach all tasks with enthusiasm and drive. Their positive spirit is motivating and inspiring to others, leaving a lasting impression on the people and communities that they work with.
2. Passion: Just like energy, passion is infectious. When individuals use their talents and passions they can bring life into even the most mundane of tasks. Those that make the greatest impact in their volunteer work are those that are truly passionate about their cause and have the ability to share that passion with others.
3. Flexibility: Volunteering can involve a broad range of tasks, so a willingness to get stuck in and adapt to what needs doing is an important quality. Volunteers stand out when they can approach their work with an open mind and a willingness to learn.
4. Creativity: People that are creative and have good imaginations are great to be around. Within the arts world in particular, creativity is a very important quality. This doesn’t necessarily mean having a formal training or an academic background in the arts, what it does mean is having bucket loads of passion for all things creative.
5. Team Player: Volunteering inevitably means being able to work with others, whether volunteers, staff or beneficiaries. Being an approachable, friendly and cooperative person is vital. Skills required to be a good team player include patience, listening skills, knowing when to contribute and when to hold back and compassion.
6: Integrity: As a volunteer you are being trusted with an organisation’s resources, facilities and customers/beneficiaries. This is a big responsibility and integrity is expected!
7. Reliability: The first rule of volunteering is that if you promise to do something, do it! It is vital that an organisation can trust you when you make a commitment. Turning up late or not completing a task that you have agreed to does not just reflect badly on you, but can impact on the organisation’s reputation too. Great volunteers maintain a high level of professionalism in all aspects of their work.
8. Commitment: To be able to make a lasting difference it is necessary to be thoroughly committed to the cause. Volunteering with an organisation on a regular basis and over a longer period of time is the best way to maximise your skills and knowledge and therefore make the maximum impact in your work.
