156. People-first Leadership & Strengthening Teams with Dr. Rob Lion

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 WeCare@VolPro.net.