Volunteer burnout is not always caused by time, workload, or lack of commitment. In many cases, it happens when leaders begin to feel less effective in their roles. As confidence and enjoyment decline, even experienced volunteers may start to disengage or step away. 

In this episode, Tobi Johnson sits down with leadership performance coach Paul Clarke to discuss new research on why volunteer leaders struggle under pressure and what organizations can do to better support them. They explore the gap between knowing what to do and being able to apply those skills in real-world situations, along with the emotional and organizational challenges that impact long-term retention. 

If you lead volunteers or are building a leadership pipeline, this conversation will help you rethink development, communication, and support. You will gain practical insights to strengthen resilience, improve retention, and create an environment where volunteer leaders feel confident, connected, and motivated to continue making an impact. 

Full show notes: 203. Preventing Volunteer Burnout - New Research with Paul Clarke 

Volunteer Burnout - Episode Highlights 

• [00:49] - Why Leaders Burn Out 
• [04:30] - Paul’s Coaching Journey 
• [10:15] - GAA and Grassroots Sports 
• [19:27] - Methodology and Surprises 
• [24:32] - Early Warning Signs 
• [30:15] - Five Competencies Overview 
• [31:26] - Authenticity Under Pressure 
• [33:12] - Emotional Intelligence Under Stress 
• [36:06] - Governance Managing Up 
• [37:09] - Managing Upward Conflicts 
• [40:26] - Beyond Performance Connection 
• [43:11] - Data Versus Belonging 
• [48:56]- Peer Learning Mentorship 
• [55:39] - Relational Culture Fix 
• [59:47] - AI Curiosity Future 

Helpful Links 

• Volunteer Management Progress Report  
• VolunteerPro Impact Lab  
• Volunteer Nation Episode #185 - To Burnout & Back: My Secret Struggle with Long COVID  
• Volunteer Nation Episode #035: 6 Ways to Prevent Burnout in Nonprofits  
• Find Paul on LinkedIn  
• The Leaders Coach 
• 'Fine Lines" Weekly Leadership Newsletter (complimentary sign-up link)  
• Follow Paul on Instagram  
• Pauls' Email  

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause.  

For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at [email protected].