160. Leadership Principles for Sparking Change – Part 1 with Jenni Field

In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson sits down with leadership and communications expert Jenni Field for an insightful conversation about what it really takes to lead with credibility in the nonprofit world. 

Jenni shares practical, research-backed strategies for building trust, fostering supportive team cultures, and leading with clarity—especially during times of change. Drawing from her extensive experience and her latest book, she unpacks how values-driven leadership can guide organizations through uncertainty and strengthen internal culture. 

This is part one of a two-part series you won’t want to miss! 

Full show notes: 160. Leadership Principles for Sparking Change – Part 1 with Jenni Field 

Leadership Principles - Episode Highlights 

• [01:42] - Leadership and Influence with Jenni Field 
• [05:56] - The Importance of Trust and Credibility 
• [14:22] - Navigating Trust Challenges in Nonprofits 
• [18:08] - The Role of Credibility in Volunteer Recruitment 
• [23:17] - Eight Practices of Credible Leadership 
• [24:26] - Diagnosing Training Program Failures 
• [25:47] - The Importance of Visionary and Supportive Practices 
• [34:56] - The Role of Values in Leadership and Culture 
• [42:23] - Practical Tips for Volunteer Managers 
   

Helpful Links 

• VolunteerPro Impact Lab  
• 2025 Volunteer Management Progress Report – The Recruitment Edition 
• Volunteer Nation Podcast Episode #84: Building an Inclusive Culture at Your Volunteer Organization with Advita Patel 
• Edleman Trust Barometer 2025  
• The Fish Rots from the Head: The Crisis in Our Boardrooms: Developing the Crucial Skills of the Competent Director  
• Find Jenni on LinkedIn  
• Find Jenni on Instagram 
• Jenni's Website  
• Buy Jenni’s Book 
• Take the Credibility Gap Assessment: How credible are you? 
  
  

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 WeCare@VolPro.net.