When Giving Back Gives You an Edge: How Volunteerism Shapes Strategic Communicators
Summary: Volunteering doesn’t just build character—it builds deeper careers and better strategic communicators. In healthcare and beyond, service sharpens strategy, empathy, and leadership.
Article: While leading a high-profile executive search for a healthcare crisis communications leader, I noticed a compelling trend. My client, a nationally respected corporation, never explicitly requested candidates with a history of volunteerism. But their values were clear in their mission:”We value professionals who lead with expertise, passion, empathy, creativity, strategy—and a spirit of service.”
A recent Harvard Business Review article affirms the value and enduring significance of volunteering:“In the U.S. alone, nearly one-third of people aged 25 to 44 volunteer through formal organizations… while over half participate in informal volunteering, like helping neighbors, assisting friends, or offering unpaid support in their communities.” [1]
What surprised and inspired me? The final slate of top candidates all organically embodied that mission. And all had one thing in common:
✨ A track record of volunteer service.
>One volunteered in disaster relief communications.
>Another lent her strategic writing skills to a patient advocacy nonprofit.
>A third served on the board of a community health coalition.
Their causes varied, but the shared thread was unmistakable:
Volunteerism sharpened and refined their craft.
Each candidate brought more than technical, strategic, and creative expertise. Their volunteer work cultivated deeper traits:
✅ Embodying a calm, non-anxious, strategic voice during crisis
✅ Exhibiting high emotional intelligence and responsiveness to human needs
✅ Demonstrating storytelling skill—and active listening with empathy at the core
This resonates deeply with me. I walk the walk by volunteering at a local hospital—a commitment that keeps me close to the front lines of healthcare, sharpens my instincts as a healthcare recruiter, and reflects the same core value that’s guided my decades-long career in healthcare communications.
💡Hiring leaders: Don’t overlook the power of integrating volunteerism into your evolving understanding of what makes a well-rounded, high-performing leader.
💡Candidates: Don’t underestimate how meaningful service can deepen your perspective, clarify your values, expand your skill set, and help you grow in ways that may surprise you.
✨ Volunteering may be the edge that fills your heart—and sets you apart.
Source:
[1] Harry Kraemer, “Looking for a Sense of Purpose? Volunteer.” Harvard Business Review, March 11, 2025.
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