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  
  
  
  

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