Is This the Most Annoying Corporate Jargon Phrase Ever? (Well, We’re Probably Going To Hear More of It in 2023)
A communication expert tells Parade how to deal with being 'voluntold.'
There are a lot of different annoying things about the corporate world but this—the "it" phrase of 2023—might just be on another level. It's not exactly a new phrase, but it has more recently been adopted into the mainstream corporate world and it sure is relatable as heck! If you've ever found yourself taking on a project you didn't willingly volunteer for, then yup—you, my friend, have been voluntold.
If the term has you scratching your head, you'll soon know exactly what we're talking about. We'll be going over examples of being "voluntold" in the workplace, as well as how to best respond (plus, how not to respond!).
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TikToker @corporatenatalie explains it best in her recent vid that has amassed 65.8K views. If you've ever worked with a fellow co-worker or boss you considered to be "a delegator" then chances are, you've been voluntold at least once in your career.
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(Side note: We could also see "voluntolding" work for parenting, too, and we all know that teachers are super guilty of "voluntolding" students.)
Keep reading for more answers to frequently-asked questions about the phrase "voluntold" and for expert tips from a pro.
Is 'voluntold' a real word?
Oh, it's definitely a real word. Even if you're only just hearing it now, "voluntold" has been used colloquially for some time now. In fact, its origins trace back to the military where it was often used as slang.
Today in the corporate world, "voluntold" is still slang. It's the combining of two words—"volunteer" and "told'"for a more accurate description of when someone else delegates a task to you. After all, Macmillan Dictionary defines the word as "forcefully volunteered; ordered to do something."
It's sometimes hyphenated or stylized differently—like volunTOLD or volun-told.
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When did 'voluntold' become a word?
Parade reached out to Kaen Laos, communication expert and confidence cultivator who focuses on equipping women in business to speak with clarity in the boardroom and beyond. Laos has worked with NASA, Netflix, Google, AT&T and more in the span of her 20-year corporate career.
"It’s been used for years, but became more popular in the early 2000s, finding its official fame in the Urban Dictionary in 2009," Laos says. "Historically, the [combination of the] words together actually trace back to the early 1900s."
You can see why it likely originated from the military as this phrase is basically someone telling or forcing someone else to do something. After all, the military is very rooted in hierarchy and commands.
But it's also come to mean a similar thing in the workplace.
"This could also be a boss who’s trying to look good to their people and volun-telling feels empowering to them. Instead of being direct and saying, 'Here’s what needs to be done,' and assigning the work accordingly, the boss comes across as passive," Laos explains.
It also doesn't have to be a boss who's doing the unfair delegating. In the realm of voluntelling, there's definitely some coworker-on-coworker crime.
"[Another] example might be in a meeting, John says, 'Hey, Kelsey, why don’t you tell us what happened on that project?' even though John was also working on the project, but he wants to pass the puck to Kelsey because he doesn’t want to talk about it," Laos explains. "Maybe the project failed and he wants to save face or he doesn’t want to take ownership."
Laos adds that voluntelling could also take shape in someone acting as if they're supporting you or giving you an opportunity, but in reality, they're trying to get out of the work themselves.
Are you, too, worried about voluntelling? Maybe you're a past offender or you're looking to cultivate better communication skills. Try out Laos' best tip for avoiding voluntelling.
"Don’t try to act like you’re doing people a favor when you’re really just assigning work," Laos explains. "Such as, 'I know you wanted more opportunities, so here’s your chance.' The difference is motive. Either be direct or legit ask your team, 'Who will volunteer for this?'"
What does 'voluntold' mean?
A hybrid, slang word of "volunteer" and "told," this phrase basically means that you didn't volunteer for something—that someone else volunteered you without you having the option of saying "no." So, someone's volunteered you on your behalf, but in reality, you're being told what to do.
"It means being volunteered for something by someone else when you’re on the receiving end," Laos explains. "If you’re the one 'volun-telling,' it means you’re putting someone forward for a task without their permission, which can be frustrating."
In fact, Laos has even used it in her own career before, but more jokingly than assertively.
"When facilitating early on in my corporate training career—the early 2000s—everyone in that particular program I was teaching had to do a presentation," Laos says. "As a facilitator, I was taught to say, 'You get to volunteer, but if no one volunteers to go first, you’ll be voluntold.'"
Laos adds, "It always got a good laugh, which made me think the phrase was not common then. That was the first time I’d heard it, though, in 2006."
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What is another word for 'voluntold?'
"Voluntold" is a kind of cheeky, slang way to say someone else volunteered you on your behalf, but there are other ways to say it too.
To be "voluntold" is to be ordered, forcefully persuaded, volunteered unwittingly, to be delegated, to be assigned, drafted, etc.
Laos adds that the difference between volunteering and being voluntold—which at their core, really are antonyms—is freedom and choice.
"Volunteering is a choice made by a person to do a certain thing whereas being voluntold is when a third party suggests you do something," Laos explains. "It’s the opposite of self-empowerment."
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How to best respond
Ugh—no one wants to be voluntold, but if it happens to you, it's best to be prepared. How will you handle it? What will you say? Being voluntold can really put you on the spot and it might just seem easier to accept it and take on the task.
But Laos believes there are other ways to respond to being voluntold.
"You've got to decide if you’ll accept the task and do it, or if you’ll set boundaries and say 'no,' Laos says. "Alternatively, you could always 'voluntell' back. That could make for a juicy dialogue."
As in, volley the ball back onto the other side of the court. The only downside to that is, well, you'd become a voluntold-er, too.
"I’d suggest asking questions, such as, 'I can do that, but I also have X other things on my plate and one of them will need to be put on hold if I take this on,'" Laos suggests.
You can also best respond to being voluntold with the following questions, Laos says:
"What would you prefer I put on hold in that case?”
"Am I the best person for this?”
Make light of it by saying, "Did you just voluntell me?" or "Did I just get voluntold?"
Ultimately, it's important to think about a) how you want to treat other people despite how they may treat you and b) what you're hoping to get out of this exchange.
"Confront it head-on with kindness. Make them aware, starting with your observation," Laos says. This could look like: "'Hey, Sue, I noticed a pattern from you that I’d like to bring up. Did you know that you tend to volunteer people for things?' and see how they respond."
Other Laos-approved ways to respond to a volunteller include:
"Hey, Sue, I’m not sure you’re aware of it, but I’ve noticed a theme of you doing the whole voluntold thing; are you aware of that?"
"Not sure it was intentional or not, but I’d rather have you straight up ask me to do something before volunteering me as it can feel like you’re making decisions for others that are theirs to make. How does that land with you?”
How to not respond
Sure, being told to do something isn't exactly fun. It can be downright annoying but if you're pissed off, you might say something passive-aggressive that you may later regret.
Some of the less effective ways to respond—AKA how not to respond—include:
“Don’t voluntell me!”
“That’s not my job!”
“Why can’t John do this?”
If your response is aggressive or unhelpful, your coworkers and bosses will likely not take that lightly.
Next up, the best remote, work-at-home jobs you can get right now.
