Pushing Quote by Duffy Robbins
““Pushing a volunteer into a position for which he or she is not spiritually, emotionally, or temperamentally equipped is like trying to build a tree house in a small tree. It’s bad for the tree house, yes, but it also crushes the tree—a tree that in time, with proper nurture and care, might have provided a sturdy and capable support.””
About This Quote
Source Talk: Volunteer Management Strategies, 2021
Robbins warns against placing volunteers in roles beyond their emotional or spiritual capacity, likening it to forcing a tree house on a small tree, which harms both the project and the volunteer.
In simple terms: Misaligned volunteer roles damage both project and person.
Key Takeaway
Match tasks to volunteers’ capacities.
Themes
volunteer management
leadership
capacity building
ethical stewardship
personal growth
Mood
cautious
empathetic
Type
practical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Nonprofit projects
- community events
- corporate volunteering programs
Key Concepts
Human resources
psychological safety
organizational ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you assess a volunteer’s readiness before assigning tasks?
- What support systems help volunteers grow into larger roles?
A Different Perspective
Volunteers may feel resentful if expectations are unrealistic.
![“I just have to deal with it [injuries] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my training, making sure I warm up and warm down before everything and not pushing myself too stupidly.” quote by Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe8/greg-james-37075_careful_i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if_10706.jpg)