In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson invites Dr. Rob Lion onto the show to discuss people-first leadership and fostering stronger collaboration between paid staff and volunteers. Dr. Rob Lion is a professor, consultant, and principal of Black River Performance Management, who shares expert insights on creating a human-centric organizational culture. Together, they explore key strategies for effective communication, trust-building, and conflict resolution—essential elements for nurturing a supportive and engaged team. 

The conversation also highlights actionable steps that volunteer coordinators can take to enhance volunteer engagement and make a lasting impact from their position. By focusing on leadership strategies that prioritize people, organizations can create an environment where both employees and volunteers feel valued and motivated. Whether you're a leader, coordinator, or simply passionate about volunteerism, this episode offers practical tips to help drive meaningful change through strategic leadership. 

Full show notes: 156. People-first Leadership & Strengthening Teams with Dr. Rob Lion 

People-first Leadership - Episode Highlights 

• [03:42] - Diving into People First Leadership with Dr. Rob 
• [03:57] - Dr. Rob's Journey and Insights 
• [18:07] - Challenges and Solutions in People First Leadership 
• [38:02] - Developing an Operations Plan for Volunteer Teams 
• [38:21] - The Importance of Making Meaning in Volunteering 
• [39:22] - Challenges in Job Descriptions and Hiring Processes 
• [40:18] - Integrating Volunteer Frameworks into Practice 
• [44:24] - Addressing Volunteer Coordinator Challenges 
• [46:02] - Building Relationships and Trust 
• [55:32] - Handling Conflicts Between Volunteers and Staff 
• [01:01:32] - The Role of Socialization in Volunteer Programs 
• [01:06:19] - People First Leadership and Community Building 

Helpful Links 

• VolunteerPro Impact Lab 
• 2025 Volunteer Management Progress Report – The Recruitment Edition  
• Volunteer Nation Podcast Episode #121: Intuitive Leadership in Volunteer Coordination with Fran Horwich 
• Volunteer Nation Podcast Episode #022: My Fave 6 Nonprofit Leadership and Management Wins  
• Volunteer Nation Podcast Episode #017: My Top 12 Nonprofit Leadership Tips Learned the Hard Way 
• Volunteer Nation Podcast Episode #101: Tap the Power of Psychological Contracts with Pam Kappelides  
• Black River Performance Management  
• Find Rob on LinkedIn  
  
  
  

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].

In this episode of Volunteer Nation, host Tobi Johnson dives deep into the ethical and fair treatment of volunteers. She introduces the Volunteer Bill of Rights, outlining ten essential rights every volunteer should have, from being valued and trained to working in a safe environment. 

But rights are only part of the equation. Tobi also explores ten key responsibilities volunteers should uphold, such as committing to the organization’s mission and respecting boundaries. This insightful conversation highlights the importance of mutual respect and accountability, aiming to build a positive, inclusive, and productive volunteer culture. Don’t miss this continuation of Part One, where Tobi tackled volunteer bias, and the complexities of the term entitled volunteer. 

Full show notes: 155. Entitled or Exploited? Part 2 Volunteer Responsibilities AND Rights 

Volunteer Bias - Episode Highlights 

• [00:27] - Entitled or Exploited: Volunteer Bias Recap 
• [04:42] - Volunteer Rights and Responsibilities Overview 
• [09:02] - 10 Fundamental Expectations and Protections Volunteers Should Have 
• [17:49] - Additional Rights Related to Staff Interaction 
• [28:45] - Volunteer Responsibilities: A Two-Way Street  

Helpful Links 

• VolunteerPro Impact Lab  
• Volunteer Management Progress Report – The Recruitment Edition 
• Volunteer Nation Episode #154: Entitled or Exploited? Part 1 Volunteer Bias in Organizations 
• Volunteer Nation Episode #101: Tap the Power of Psychological Contracts with Pam Kappelides 
• Volunteer Nation Episode #108: Definition of a Volunteer – Why It Matters to Be Precise 
• Volunteer Nation Episode #129: Paid or Volunteer Role? A Simple Checklist 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi discusses the concept of volunteer bias in organizations, focusing on the theme, Entitled or Exploited. Using data from the Volunteer Management Progress Report, Tobi highlights issues such as volunteer retention, respect, and organizational challenges. 

She also delves into the implications of labeling volunteers as 'entitled' and introduces the concept of volunteer exploitation with real-world examples and emphasizes the importance of ethical leadership and boundary setting in volunteer engagement, urging organizations to introspect on their practices.  

Full show notes: 154. Entitled or Exploited? Part 1 - Volunteer Bias in Organizations 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi welcomes Michele Wiesner, Director of Capacity Building at Hire Heroes USA onto the show! Michele discusses her extensive experience in volunteer engagement and career development, particularly her role in developing a robust volunteer program at Hire Heroes.  

The pair cover a range of topics, including the importance of volunteerism, strategies for recruitment and retention, and insights on how nonprofits can scale their impact through capacity building. Michele also shares valuable leadership tips and advice for nonprofit professionals seeking to strengthen their organizations. Listen in to learn how to create a sustainable and impactful volunteer program and get inspired by Michele's journey and practical wisdom. 

Full show notes: 153. Building Nonprofit Capacity at Hire Heroes with Michele Wiesner 

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].

In this episode, Tobi draws insights from the Volunteer Management Progress Report and discusses the perennial challenges in engaging volunteers, particularly respect and buy-in from leadership. She highlights the importance of power sharing, diverse community engagement activities, and the skill sets needed for successful community collaborations.  

Tobi also shares practical tips from listening forums and advocacy campaigns to digital engagement and strategic planning, that can transform your organization’s relationship with its community. This episode is perfect for executive directors and program leaders looking for actionable strategies to build meaningful, lasting partnerships! 

Full show notes: 152. What Every Nonprofit Executive Should Know About Community Engagement 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson is joined by Alice Glenn, President of the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI). Tobi and Alice delve into innovative approaches to nonprofit membership and volunteer engagement, particularly within associations, chapters, and membership-based nonprofits.  

Alice shares insights into developing volunteer leadership pipelines and modernizing governance models. She emphasizes the importance of aligning volunteer experiences with personal skill development and community impact.  

They also explore the crucial role of advocacy and cross-sector partnerships in addressing community needs, highlighting practical strategies for effective volunteer-fueled advocacy, and share guidance on how to attract and retain committed volunteers while adapting to contemporary challenges.

Full show notes: 151. Reimagining Nonprofit Membership & Volunteer Engagement with Alice Glenn 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi focuses on nonprofit advocacy, emphasizing the importance of advocacy in uncertain times. Tobi outlines a detailed six-step plan to launch a community-based advocacy program, tailored for organizations that rely on volunteer and community support. 

She discusses the importance of defining goals, recruiting and training the right volunteers, providing necessary tools and resources, and recognizing and retaining advocates. Tobi also shares the EPIC communications framework from Results.org and encourages nonprofits to take decisive steps to educate and mobilize their communities for advocacy, ensuring their vital role in society is sustained and funded. 

Full show notes: 150. Launch a Community-based Advocacy Program in Six Steps 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, host Tobi Johnson provides an in-depth discussion on nonprofit advocacy strategies. Tobi talks about the immediate need for nonprofit advocacy and shares five key strategies to effectively engage in advocacy efforts. These strategies include public awareness and education, media and digital advocacy, grassroots mobilization, engaging policymakers without lobbying, and legal and policy advocacy.  

The episode emphasizes the importance of involving volunteers in advocacy efforts and provides practical tips on how to engage and train volunteers as advocates!

Full show notes: 149. Nonprofit Advocacy Strategies – A Checklist 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi addresses the critical need for nonprofits to engage in advocacy, especially amidst current uncertainties like federal funding chaos. She explains how advocacy's role has diminished over the past 20 years and stresses the importance of nonprofit sectors educating legislators, constituents, and communities about their work.  

Offering a basic understanding of nonprofit advocacy versus lobbying, Tobi provides actionable steps and dispels myths around these activities. The episode also highlights the power of engaging volunteers in advocacy and introduces the 2025 Volunteer Management Progress Report. Aimed at encouraging nonprofits to take confident advocacy actions, this episode sets the stage for a deeper dive into advocacy tactics in upcoming episodes! 

Full show notes: 148. Nonprofit Advocacy 101 – Yes You Can! 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi discusses the key volunteer recruitment trends from the 2025 Volunteer Management Progress Report. She explores the major challenges non-profit organizations face in recruiting and retaining volunteers, such as time constraints, lack of support, and alignment issues between volunteer roles and community interests. 

Tobi also emphasizes the importance of tracking marketing metrics to double down on successful tactics and offers insights on how organizations can improve their volunteer engagement efforts! 

Full show notes: 147. Volunteer Recruitment Trends from Our New Report 

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].