Are You Directing Traffic or Driving the Bus?

Many nonprofit leaders are doing EVERYTHING these days instead of tapping into a very important resource: volunteers and volunteer committees!

Fifteen years ago, an international nonprofit trained me with a concept that I have used in my work ever since: My job as Executive Director of a nonprofit was to "direct traffic and not drive the bus."

Until then, I had been basically doing everything - programs, fundraising, Board management, PR, finance, and more. Since that time, one of my most important jobs has been to form program and income committees, recruit volunteers for those committees, train them, delegate jobs to them, provide all of the resources for them, and oversee their work.

As I embraced this leadership strategy, not only did I multiply my efforts one hundred-fold but I also gave many volunteers the opportunity to become really involved and invested in my nonprofit and truly have the opportunity to make a difference.

So, think about the very valuable resource pool of potential volunteers in your community and use them, particularly in these difficult economic times. And remember that your number one job should be recruiting, training, and overseeing!

"Are you directing traffic?"