Leading Volunteers When Nobody Has to Listen to You - Eric Kaufman

Increasingly, leadership is understood as a relational process rather than as an authority granted by a formal title. In this episode, Sharna speaks with Dr. Eric Kaufman about how decision-making happens in community settings. Drawing from his research and experiences with civic organizations, volunteer groups, faith communities, and educational programs, Eric explores how collaboration works when people connect through a shared purpose.

Eric is a professor at Virginia Tech, where he coordinates a graduate certificate in collaborative community leadership and supports an undergraduate minor in leadership and social change.  He also has a partial appointment at Virginia Cooperative Extension, and that role has focused his attention on best practices for working with community members to guide educational programming.  

You'll learn:

• What shared responsibility looks like in volunteer-based groups
• Why many are eager to contribute but hesitant to take on official leadership positions 
• How asking better questions can create more inclusive decision-making
• Why strong communities require both leadership and active participation

Episode References

Kaufman, E. K., Kennedy, R. E., & Cletzer, D. A. (2019). Understanding the Nature of Eco‐Leadership: A Mixed Methods Study of Leadership in Community Organizations. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, 167(1), 33-49.

Graduate Certificate: Collaborative Community Leadership, Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education, Virginia Tech
https://www.alce.vt.edu/student-info/graduate/commleader.html

Connect with Eric Kaufman 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickkaufman/