# How to Manage a Team Member Who Always Volunteers You for Work

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-manager-s-hour-with-fexingo-people-management-team-building-and-leadership-skills-7871622/how-to-manage-a-team-member-who-always-volunteers-you-for-work
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-manager-s-hour-with-fexingo-people-management-team-building-and-leadership-skills-7871622/how-to-manage-a-team-member-who-always-volunteers-you-for-work.md
Podcast: [The Manager's Hour with Fexingo: People Management, Team Building, and Leadership Skills](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-manager-s-hour-with-fexingo-people-management-team-building-and-leadership-skills-7871622)
Published: 2026-06-13T04:29:45+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/the-managers-hour/episode-0049.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/the-managers-hour/episode-0049.mp3
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Duration seconds: 524

## Resource

When a team member repeatedly volunteers their manager for new projects without consulting them first, it creates resentment, scope creep, and a fractured sense of control. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dissect this subtle but corrosive dynamic. They walk through a real scenario: a senior marketer named Jenna who raised her hand for a cross-functional initiative on behalf of her boss, Lucas, during a director-level meeting. The hosts break down why this happens — often from a place of genuine helpfulness or over-identification with the manager's priorities — and offer a three-step coaching script to reset the boundary without crushing initiative. They also discuss when the manager's own behavior might have inadvertently invited the problem, from loose delegation language to being overly enthusiastic about a past volunteer. Finally, they explore the team-level fix: a short weekly ritual called 'the parking lot' that surfaces work before it gets assigned. A focused, practical episode for any manager who has ever felt volunteered into a corner. #BoundarySetting #ManagerTips #TeamDynamics #Delegation #ScopeCreep #Coaching #LeadershipSkills #PeopleManagement #WorkplaceCommunication #EmpoweredTeams #ManagerTraining #MiddleManagement #CareerGrowth #Productivity #TeamCulture #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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## Transcript

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