When people hear the phrase “volunteer leader,” they often picture someone standing in front of a room giving instructions, organizing events, or managing a team. While those roles certainly count, volunteer leadership within ITE comes in many shapes and sizes. It can be bold or quiet, front and center or behind the scenes, highly structured or informal. Based on my experience, I believe that one of the most powerful qualities of volunteer leadership is its flexibility. People can lead in ways that align with their personalities, strengths, schedules, employers, and life circumstances. It’s not a one-size-fits-all definition. Having served in many different volunteer organizations, including ITE, I’m definitely in the camp that embraces these differences, as I feel it cultivates a stronger, more diverse community. Here are a few different types of volunteer leaders—see if you identify a little bit of yourself in one or more of them.
The Doers – Some volunteer leaders make a difference simply by rolling up their sleeves. They are the doers who show up early to set up chairs, take on the less glamorous tasks, and are willing to support the team simply by doing what needs to be done. Their leadership isn’t always loud, but it is incredibly impactful.
The Visionaries – These are the volunteer leaders who contribute by dreaming big. They see opportunities for new programs or improvements, offer creative ideas, and are energized by planning, coordinating, and building. These volunteers may not always be the ones executing every detail, but they motivate others with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose.
The Connectors – Some of our volunteers lead simply by caring deeply about others. These volunteers make newcomers feel welcome, listen more than they talk, and bridge gaps between groups or individuals. Their emotional intelligence strengthens teams from the inside. They foster trust and belonging—critical elements of any thriving volunteer community.
The Specialists – Our councils and committees have a lot of these volunteers, who have gotten engaged because they bring a valuable skill. Maybe they are experts in a
certain element of our industry; they could be tech-savvy communicators, have an issue they are passionate about, or even be strong writers who want to make a difference. They may not carry a formal leadership title, but their contributions support the mission in ways no one else could.
The Helpers in Transition – Some volunteers can’t commit to a long-term or high visibility role—for whatever reason. But they will often step in where needed, take on short-term tasks, offer remote or flexible support, and lend their voice or network to the task. They remind organizations that leadership isn’t about hours logged—it’s about heart and reliability.
The Guides – And finally, there are volunteers who shape the next generation of leaders, usually without much fanfare. They take time to teach new volunteers, share experiences, provide encouragement and direction, and empower others to grow into leadership. Often these are volunteers who previously were visible leaders, but now they’re perfectly comfortable not being in the spotlight, and they amplify impact by investing in others.
If you stick around long enough, you’ll undoubtedly progress through more than one of these types of roles in an organization like ITE. The message here is simple: volunteer leadership isn’t reserved for the most outgoing, the most available, or the most experienced people. It emerges whenever someone uses their strengths to make a difference.