By; Hayden Sherwood
I joined the Triangle chapter of the AMA in 2017, when I was only a few months into my first job out of school and was looking for a way to connect with other young professionals in the area. After attending different social events, luncheons and career fairs, I took the plunge into volunteering on the AMA Triangle’s Programming team for the new chapter year in 2018.
I spent a year volunteering as the Director of Link + Thinks, overseeing AMA Triangle’s version of Special Interest Group meetups in partnership with different businesses in the community across the Triangle. The following chapter year, I stepped into the role of Director of Socials, planning and facilitating quarterly social + happy hour events and our Annual Holiday party.
When March of 2020 rolled around, I’d agreed to take on the role as VP of Programming for the upcoming chapter year – we all know how the rest of that year panned out. We had to pivot quickly, and had to be there to support our members and community during an extremely challenging time in the world. Not only did we band together as a volunteer team that year, we hosted over 90 (!!) virtual events, I (mostly) overcame my fear of public speaking, and I was fortunate enough to forge deep friendships that I continue to be so thankful for today.
I continued on in the Programming seat for the next chapter year, until I was approached and asked if I’d be interested in being President-Elect, meaning I would commit to another three-year term on the board, eventually becoming President of the Triangle chapter.
My initial reactions?
“Oh, I’m definitely not qualified for that.”
“I have no idea how to run a non-profit chapter.”
“This sounds intimidating.”
“What if everyone else thinks I’m bad at this?”
But, I decided to take the risk and just say yes. Over the course of my professional career, I’ve learned that sometimes the best opportunities present themselves when you’re not necessarily ready for them, but if you’re open-minded and willing to take a leap, it can push you forward in ways you didn’t realize were possible.
My tenure as President isn’t quite over – I’m excited that I still have another few months to do some big and exciting things with my volunteer team*.
(*Shoutout to this roster of 30+ absolutely incredible individuals – I’m forever grateful for their dedication and willingness to donate their time and energy to this chapter!)
Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Don’t be afraid to try, and fail.
Our team set out with a handful of big initiatives this year, and there have been a handful of things that worked well, and a handful of things that didn’t. Example? There were many events across our Programming, Employment Services, and Community + Collegiate Relations teams that were massive successes, and there were a handful of events we canceled or re-worked at the last minute due to factors outside of our control – sometimes it’s difficult to get the formula just right. But, unless we tried and put our ideas out there, we would never know what worked or what didn’t.
Communicating effectively is an ever-evolving art form.
Years ago, I read the book “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. Something I have always carried with me after reading that book, is the idea that self-awareness and the ability to manage your own emotions carries over into your communications with others and the ability to manage your personal and professional relationships. In my opinion, this applies to all aspects of life and in this scenario, it’s been especially important when working to build, grow, and manage a non-profit, professional networking association where the people involved are all balancing a million and one things, including their personal lives, their work lives and their volunteer lives.
Communication can be hard, but it doesn’t need to be. There have been times where I didn’t ask enough questions, shied away from having a difficult conversation, or let something slip through the cracks. But, I’ve learned the importance of communicating when I need help, communicating gratitude, communicating support, communicating expectations and communicating constructive feedback.
Empower the people around you.
My goal from the beginning of my chapter year was always to let the AMA Triangle team do the damn thing. Our VPs, our Directors, and our amazing Volunteers have always stepped in and stepped up and have absolutely crushed it. In fact, there have been many times where they’ve told me the direction they thought we should go in, and then they went for it. And it’s been a huge success! I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to do as a chapter so far this year, and I told myself early on to let go of the need for control, to let our teams do what they’re good at, and to also encourage them to bring their ideas to the table – big or small.
A Volunteer (and a real, human person) who feels empowered to bring their best self forward and who knows their ideas will be heard and championed, will know that they are valued.
Finally, Say yes to the challenges – because, what if it all works out?
There have been times in my personal life and my professional life where I’ve let the fear of doing the big, scary thing hold me back. The biggest takeaway for me this year (so far) has been, trust when the people around you express confidence in your abilities. I did have concerns about whether or not I was ready to take on the role of President, but I’ve always let myself be guided by the thought that vulnerability, transparency and being open-minded are absolute strengths, and this team has really rallied behind me. A handful of very smart and talented individuals saw something in me and encouraged me to take on a new challenge, and I’m very grateful for that.
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As I reflect on my time as a volunteer and in this role as President, I’ve seen firsthand the power of community, the value of diverse perspectives, and the sense of purpose provided by bringing together a group of people with shared passions and interests – especially in a time where it can be so easy to feel disconnected.
If you’re contemplating getting involved (in any organization, not only limited to the AMA!), I would encourage you to take that first step. Whether it’s dedicating a few hours a week or stepping into a leadership role, your efforts really do matter and can make the difference. And, getting out of your comfort zone is absolutely the catalyst toward personal and professional growth.
