Douglas A. G. Stevenson, known as Doug Stevenson, is a construction executive and president of RBS Strategies, LLC, in Carlisle, MA, with more than three decades of experience in the New England construction industry. He oversees sales, marketing, customer relations, and financial management, while also providing consulting services and staff training. Beyond his professional work, Doug Stevenson actively supports community organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross, reflecting a strong commitment to service. His recognition with the Metro West Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award underscores his engagement with volunteerism. With a background in physics and political science from Boston College, and a long-standing interest in outdoor pursuits and community involvement, his perspective aligns closely with the personal and societal value of volunteering.
Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering, beyond advancing humanity, benefits the volunteer in numerous ways. Whether you’re volunteering your time, skills, or resources to advance your career or to give back, volunteering offers several benefits.
To start, volunteering creates a sense of purpose for many people. Purpose, in turn, brings fulfillment and increases self-esteem. By shifting focus outward, you make a virtuous cycle that helps combat anxiety, stress, and depression. The resultant positive emotions, such as joy and optimism, enrich your personal and professional life. For example, they boost immunity and life expectancy.
Next, volunteering helps overcome depression by connecting you to others. With busy lives, meet-ups with friends and family can be rare. By volunteering, you avoid isolation, a leading cause of anxiety and depression. Volunteerism is a positive predi
Moreover, volunteering hones your expertise, which may boost your job prospects by exposing you to potential employers or by connecting you with mentors. Additionally, volunteer programs often attract people from different professions. Even if you’re not in it for career prospects, you may enjoy having a diverse professional social network.
A team-based activity, volunteering hones people skills such as collaboration, teamwork, and communication, which are transferable. Volunteering pushes you outside your comfort zone, forcing you to sharpen your social skills. The better you are with people and in social scenes, the greater your confidence.
In addition to connecting you to others, volunteering creates a sense of community. You may never meet the beneficiaries of your charitable acts, but by touching their lives, you connect with them.
The experience of volunteerism varies. Some find it fun, which is why many people do it without expecting any direct gain. For many, it’s a way to explore their interests outside work, school, or family commitments. Therefore, volunteering for a cause you care about can be energizing. Interesting work cultivates creativity, mindfulness, and motivation, which you can leverage in areas of your life.
Volunteering promotes learning. You may go into a community to share your expertise and come away with new experiences, lessons, and ideas. When you volunteer, you broaden your perspective about people, organizations, and places.
Many people have ideas about how to make things better, but few actually try. Volunteering is a chance to do just that. Organizations that accept volunteers often have sound ideas for changing things. When people organize themselves and rally behind a common cause, communities become more resilient.
In many cases, volunteering is an opportunity to give back. Perhaps you, like many people, are a beneficiary of other people’s philanthropy. Volunteering allows you to return the favor, or to ‘pay it forward.’ Volunteering also cultivates civic responsibility.
People volunteer for many reasons. Some do it to advance their career, others to touch lives. To get the most out of volunteering, be clear about your goal. For example, if you’re looking for a career-boosting opportunity, ensure the volunteer opportunity aligns with your career path and skills and that you have the time and resources to see it through.
Finally, volunteering can take many forms, such as picking up litter at the park or driving an older neighbor to their doctor’s appointment. Both can be fulfilling, provided it’s what you want. By serving others, you gain a deeper understanding of humanity and also yourself, your sensibilities, and your values.
About Doug Stevenson
Doug Stevenson is president of RBS Strategies, LLC, and RBS Limited, LLC, with more than 30 years in the construction industry. Based in Massachusetts, he manages operations, consulting services, and staff development while focusing on budgeting and client relations. A Boston College graduate in physics and political science, he holds a Massachusetts construction supervisor’s license. Stevenson is active in community organizations and has received the Metro West Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award for his volunteer efforts.