It’s the time of year when many of us reflect on what we have done, and what we should do differently. Some of us even begin our annual “What to do this coming year to make the world a better place” plans.  And, as Product Managers, we have skills that are unique. We are in a great position to give back to the community.

Product Managers are trained to figure out how to best help those in need, do it at the lowest cost, and the highest customer satisfaction rate. Here are five skills that we are trained to do in our sleep, and how you can apply them, adding real value to any volunteer or charitable organization that pulls at your heartstrings.

Skill #1: Understanding the real needs.

It’s one of the first things we learn about as a Product Manager: How to differentiate between what someone asks for and figuring out what they really need.

Many organizations run events, or collect specific items because it is what they did before.  Sometimes, when people are doing their best to give back on a volunteer basis, they may not have the time or the skillset to stop to think about what the people they serve really need. They are busy doing the best they can to provide what was asked for.  And figuring out what the real need is, Product Managers, is one of the things you do best.

For example: Is the local food pantry collecting individual juice boxes? Why? Probably so mothers can fill their kids’ lunch box or snack bag. But, that money may be better served providing the children with re-usable thermoses and larger bottles of healthy drinks. A lot less expensive in the long run, and the leftover money can be used to fill many other needs.

Think about the organizations you care about. How well do they understand the needs of those they are trying to serve? Is there something you can help them do better and further the reach of their funds?

How you can help: Pick your favorite charity, offer to help research & interview some of their beneficiaries. Present the needs of their clientele back to them and provide ideas on how they can better serve their market. Not a lot of time for you, but invaluable benefits to the organization.

Skill #2: Highest value, lowest cost delivered first.

As a Product Manager, you know this intuitively. You look at your backlog and try to quickly deliver things to your customers that they need and are nearly free. Those get delivered first. Well, it’s the same for your favorite volunteer organization.   Is there something that the community needs that they are missing? What can they do that is easy, and provide real community value?

Recently, an organization I volunteer with learned that local families were unaware where to get help for children in need. With just a few phone calls, they were able to put the information in the quarterly town mailer, increasing the number of families able to access the benefits. They added real value to the community at zero cost.

How you can help: Do a little sleuthing. Is there a need being under-served? Information that isn’t well communicated? Is there a challenge where a few people with the right skillset could make a real impact? Perhaps a local population that needs help with building websites, or training in an area where you are an expert? Bring your ideas to a local charity, put together class at your local library, and help serve the community nearly for free.

Skill #3: Streamline processes. (Don’t do it the same way if that way is broken.)

While volunteering with a local organization, I found myself running an annual event. I was handed a large list of things that needed to be done, exactly how to do them, and where.  For the first few days, I followed the instructions. Then I realized they were ridiculous. It was an outdated set of instructions done by someone who wasn’t necessarily technology savvy.

When I took a step back and streamlined the event, I filled the needs at a quarter the cost, better served the beneficiaries, and delivered another benefit to the students using the leftover money. And created a whole new, streamlined process to hand down next year.

How you can help: Imagine how many events are still being run the “old way”.  Is there an event that you attend annually? Maybe you can help bring it into the next decade by identifying new ways to procure items, communicate with the attendees, or host the event. And use the saved costs to deliver additional value.

Skill #4: Social Media Maven? Communicate out the good deeds being done by the organization

The volunteers I have met over the last decade have been some of the most amazing, humble people I have ever met. Which is great, and frustrating. Because with humility sometimes comes a failure to communicate out their good deeds.

Without promotion, even the best products and services will go under-appreciated. Communicating the services provided by a volunteer organization can help bring more volunteers to the table. More volunteers have a bigger impact.  It can also help serve a larger population. Seeing the organizations capabilities can make those in need aware of available services.

How you can help: Doing things as simple as writing press releases, notifying local bloggers, online newspapers, blogging, starting a twitter account, a simple WordPress website, or Facebook fan page. Things that take a small amount of time, but can dramatically increase an organizations’ impact in the long run.

Skill #5: Partnering

Just like in the business world where partnerships are critical to success, bringing multiple organizations together for a cause can create value larger than the sum of its parts.

I learned this while running a program to educate middle school girls about the importance of pursuing math and science. After working on the project for a few weeks lining up speakers, I ran into an amazing set of women at Raytheon and iRobot – and discovered there are many local companies who were just as interested in getting girls in science as we were.  Once we partnered up, we were able to deliver even more value to the students while all meeting our common goals.

How you can help: Look for synergies in organizations you care about. Is there a common interest? Can you bring them together to serve your community in a new way?

However you decide to serve, just do it.

Product Managers have a unique set of skills. From interviews and benefits mapping to identify the real needs of those your serve, to creating marketing platforms to inform those in need of the organization, you have a set of skills that can better your community.

Get out there, and use your amazing skillset as a Product Manager to improve your community.