Communication Skills Volunteer

As a starting point, the volunteer will have it easier to communicate if you have enough emotional self-control to know where or how long to get involved. When his mission reaches a limit, it will be necessary to refer the person to another or to a professional service.

Self-esteem and self-acceptance also facilitate the acceptance of others towards us. As volunteers, we must be respected and learn to laugh at ourselves if we want to convey to the other self-esteem.

Be clear about our volunteer motivation transmits security and can help give continuity to our service.

Empathy and a positive attitude will equip the authenticity and credibility to our volunteers.

Confidence in the 'Help', closely associated with a positive attitude, enables motivation fight and stay longer and harder. We must believe in the potentiality of the other person to change their situation. Overcoming the tremendous capacity of humans has been demonstrated throughout history and around us that we each have certain clear examples.

No moralizing view: We are volunteers, not judges. And as such we will accept the other person as is, "though? of how it is.

Welcome the world of feelings: do not invite abuse of phrases not to feel: "Never mind, do not worry, nothing happens, everything will work out ... ?. Rather, we must help take in the reality and context of each person unpleasant situations, to find individual solutions. If the volunteer uses a "Do not worry?, You need to argue it because if not, remains an empty phrase.

Nor is it good to use extreme generalizations that make us a world built from a small detail that shows a person. The tone of voice and physical appearance of a person can lead us to conclude that is a drug addict, probably uneducated, almost certainly be stolen and, therefore, must have been in jail and possibly being infected with AIDS, characteristics that do not be very reliable for rehabilitation treatment ... and all for a physical appearance that may not perfectly match the reality of that person. "Clothes do not make the man?. This has much to do with unfounded prejudices and, as stated above, no one has all the characteristics of any group, each possess particularities and differences that make us unique and as such has to treat the beneficiaries of the voluntary program in which act.

The friendliness, quality of heart, honesty and warmth allow us to gain the trust of others, so that we will find it easier to correct mistakes, be firm and tell the truth if the time comes.

J.C.G.F

Partnership for development

ccs@solidarios.org.es