Delegation for Volunteer Leaders
Stop doing it all yourself and grow your team by handing off the right work.
For: Volunteers leading other volunteers
What you’ll learn
- Understand why capable leaders cling to work — and the cost of doing so
- Decide what to delegate and what to keep using the urgent-important matrix
- Match each task to the right volunteer’s strengths, growth, and availability
- Set an explicit level of authority so handoffs don’t fall apart
- Follow up and support without slipping into micromanagement
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
Why good leaders refuse to let go
5 min
- 2
The monkey on your back
5 min
- 3
What to delegate, what to keep
6 min
- 4
Match the task to the person
5 min
- 5
The 7 levels of authority
6 min
- 6
The delegation conversation
5 min
- 7
Follow up without micromanaging
5 min
Sources & further reading
- Harvard Business Review — Oncken & Wass — Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?
- Jurgen Appelo (Management 3.0) — The 7 Levels of Delegation
- Gallup — Delegating: A Huge Management Challenge for Entrepreneurs
- Asana / Stephen Covey — The Eisenhower Matrix: urgent vs. important
- Energize, Inc. (Susan J. Ellis) — From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Volunteer Involvement
This course is educational and provides general information about the Fair Credit Reporting Act and volunteer-screening best practices. It is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — consult a qualified attorney about your organization’s specific obligations.