Ten Top Traits of Volunteer Leadership

There are so many articles out there about the difference between leadership and management. When it comes to coordinating and managing volunteers I have some thoughts. We manage programs. We coordinate activity. We lead people and organisations. Here is what effective leadership means to me in the volunteering sector. I come to these conclusions after 22 years in the sector.
1.      A leader advocates for ethics in volunteering. We don’t stand for replacing paid roles to save money. We do stand with volunteers adding value to an organisation.
2.      A leader inspires volunteers. Through their leadership style they inspire the volunteer to continue volunteering for the cause week in and week out. The leader is an integral part of continuing motivation.
3.      A leader has a volunteers back. They stand up for them if they are being used rather than utilised. They stand for equal recognition of a volunteer as a staff member. They ensure their “unpaid status” does not lead to any type of discrimination as far as value and worth are concerned.

4. A leader is proactive and not just reactive. A good volunteer leader anticipates their organisations needs rather than maintain a status quo

5.  A great volunteer leader challenges their organisation around volunteering solutions. They consistently point out how volunteer engagement is an awesome resource which brings so many benefits to the organisation and therefore merits investment and resource

6.  A Volunteer leader is part of the leadership team of any organisation. They have an equal footing with HR and fundraising management. Because of their expertise in leading people they are sought out for leadership advice across the organisation.

7.      A Volunteer leader has a strategic mindset. They are constantly following worldwide trends in volunteering. They understand the various demographics and motivations of volunteering. They are one step ahead and never rest on their laurels.

8.  An effective volunteer leader networks. They actively work to see what other organisations are doing around the globe. They share their expertise as they take from others.

9. A great volunteer leader demands. They demand that their subject matter expertise is respected. They demand that volunteers have their rightful place on the organisations chart which should be pretty much high up!

10.  The best volunteer leader develops leaders. They stand back and let volunteers lead. They help create programs and give volunteers the credit they deserve. They are best pleased when they see volunteers shine and thrive.

Organisations need to advertise for leaders when they are looking for managers or coordinators of volunteers into the future. A lot of people can manage or coordinate volunteers. But find a leader and your volunteer program will excel!