In this instance, the volunteering became so much more than a fun afternoon (it was that, too). With the right formula, it provided the added bonus of helping a new team quickly move through the early stages of development into performance mode on a shortened timetable and with an added zeal that came from the service aspect of the experience.

The lesson for business owners and managers: be proactive to tap into the learning that is potentially in every volunteer experience. Make it pay for your company; otherwise, it is just a missed opportunity.

Embrace the Change
Rather than view volunteering as an intrusion on other, more productive activities, view it as a strategic resource -- something you can leverage to address your people-related challenges. If you are looking to create a great place to work for existing and potential employees, make volunteering a part of your culture. If you have workers who are grinding down, reinvigorate them with a service outing. If you have a team in trouble, jump-start them through a service project.

With a little effort of forethought and some structure, you can get even greater mileage out of something that already has intrinsic value. The payoffs will leave you wondering why you hadn’t done it earlier.