Combatting Nonprofit Burnout: Managing Tech and Email Overload
May 25, 2017Beth Kanter
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved2
Using ReadyTalk
• Chat to ask questions
• All lines are muted
• If you lose your Internet connection, reconnect using the link emailed to you.
• If you lose your phone connection, re-dial the phone number and re-join.
• ReadyTalk support: 800-843-9166
Your audio will play through your computer’s speakers. Hear an echo? You may be logged in twice and will need to close one instance of ReadyTalk.
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved3
You Are Being Recorded…
• This webinar will be available on the TechSoup website along with past webinars: www.techsoup.org/community/events-webinars
• You can also view recorded webinars and videos on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/TechSoupVideo
• You will receive an email with this presentation, recording, and links within a few days.
• Tweet us @TechSoup or using hashtag: #tswebinars
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved4
Presenters
Beth KanterMaster Trainer, Speaker, Author
Susan Hope BardTechSoup, Training and
Education Manager
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved5
The Need Is Global – And So Are We
• TechSoup’s mission is to build a dynamic bridge that enables civil society organizations and social change agents around the world to gain effective access to the resources they need to design and
implement solutions for a more equitable planet.
Countries Served TechSoup Partner Location NetSquared Local Group
Where are you on the map?
Combatting Nonprofit Burnout: Technology Wellness in the Nonprofit Workplace
Beth Kanter, Master Trainer, Speaker, Author
@kanterwww.bethkanter.org
Beth Kanter: Master Trainer, Speaker, Author and Nonprofit Thought Leader
• Nonprofit Professionals: Nonprofits• Understanding Connection between Tech and
Burnout• Personal Technology Wellness Tips
• Nonprofit Workplace: Organizations• Bringing Technology Wellness into the
Nonprofit Workplace
What I’m going to talk about …..
Happy Healthy Nonprofit Book
http://bit.ly/happyhealthynpbook
We-Care
Self-Care
Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that occurs when we feel overwhelmed by too many demands, too few resources, and too little recovery time.
Technology Use Can Be A BigCause Stress and Burnout
Information Overload
Personal Technology Wellness Assessment1. Is the only time you take a break from your tech when you’re sleeping?2. Do you check your phone before you go to bed or right when you wake up?3. Do you have problems recalling information and resort to searching on Google?4. Do you feel that you often have a hard time paying attention or focusing on a
single task?5. Do you experience frustration at the amount of online information you need to
process every day?6. Do you frequently or constantly check your email, Twitter, Facebook or other
online services?7. Do you sometimes check your mobile phone for messages while in the
bathroom?8. Do you find yourself reaching for your phone even when you’re with others?9. Do you sit at your computer at work or home for longer than 30 minutes at a
time without getting up to take a break?10.Do you ever check your mobile phone while walking outside?
Add up all the questions you answered “YES” to for your score
0…1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10Source: Lulumonathletica
Healthy……………………………………………………Unhealthy
What’s Your Technology Wellness Score?
Our technology use is changing our brains
We have no downtime52% of smartphone owners check their phonesa few times an hour or more.
Behavior Addiction
What is the average human attention span
online?
Attention Spans Online …
Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information, US National Library of MedicineFlickr photo: Josullivan59
Attention Span Statistics Data
The average human attention span in 2000. 12 seconds
The average human attention span in 2013. 8 seconds
9 seconds
Technology Wellness Tips for Nonprofit Professionals
Not Saying To Stop Using Technology
Be Intentional
Tip: Protect Your Sleep
Pro Tip: Use An Alarm Clock
Beverly Trayner-Wenger
List of Standing Desk Resourceshttp://bethkanter.wikispaces.com/walk
Tip: Stand Up At Work
Tip: Walk More
Tip: Organize Mobile Phone To Avoid Addiction
• Notifications from people• Customized notifications• Tools on home screen• Scramble Apps• Remove or move work apps into folders on 3rd or 4th screens
during non-work hours
Tip: Unplug regularly & often
TIP: Schedule Quiet Time
• What is one personal technology wellness habit you can start doing now?
Mindful Moment
Technology Wellness in the Nonprofit Workplace
Walking At Work
• Pick the best type of meetings for walking meetings• Walk inside • Plan your route• Notetaking• Wear comfortable shoes, bring water
Tip: Walking Meetings
United Way in South Dakota: Movement Breaks
• Twice daily all staff walk or movement
• Started with listening and engaging with employees
• Wellness coaching and experiment 10 years ago
• Now part of culture
Walking for Team Building
Wednesday Afternoon Weekly Walk-After lunch for 20 minutes to energize and build community
Building A Movement Inside Your Organization
Creating An Organization That Values Focus Time/Space
Collaborative Tech Overload: Connectivity Driven
● 15% of organization time is spent in meetings
● Four hours a week for status update meetings
● 11 million meetings a day
● More than $37 billion year in unproductive meetings
Source: NY Times, “Meeting is Murder”2/28/16Fuze Infographic on Meetings
Is this familiar?
• Long work week• Come home to realize
you didn’t get stuff done
• You start doing solo work in evenings and weekends
• You don’t do it because you are too exhausted
Solution: The Four P’s
Planning People
Priorities Present
Planning: Structure and RitualsAssessment
1. Our team has a clear sense of what’s ahead each month2. We stick to deadlines and commitments and rarely let things fall through the
cracks3. My team or organization has a clear policy about sending after hours emails4. My team uses cloud software for collaboration and has a well mapped out
workflow and training for all users0-8
What’s your score? 0=No, 1=Sometimes 2=YesAdd it up your answers
Tips to Improve Planning
● Use Look-Ahead Rituals● Make Solo Focus Time Part of Your Team Culture
Tips to Improve Planning
● Clearly Define Workflow for Online Collaboration Platforms and Training
● Adopt Formal Practices Around Team Emails
People: How You Relate To OthersAssessment
1. I am comfortable saying no, negotiating requests, and making requests of others.2. I stay away from gossip, office politics, and drama3. Our team communicates precisely via email and online collaboration tools4. Our team has an effective approach to integrating remote and on-site staff for
meetings and collaboration
What’s your score? 0=No, 1=Sometimes 2=YesAdd it up your answers
0-8
Tips to Improve
● Set a Statute of Limitations on People Frustrations● Say NO, But Enforce Boundaries With Grace
Tips to Improve People
● Write emails that are precise● Create a remote working charter for your team
Subjects w/Keywords [ACTION] [SIGN][DECISION] [CORD][INFO]Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)Fewer WordsLink to Attachments
Priorities: How You Spend Your Time
1. We spend time working on key priorities and goals that move the needle for our organization, our team, or my own performance and growth.
2. I complete tasks even when I don’t want to do them.3. My organization or team has clear rationales for how we use our time4. I understand and accept the trade-offs that I make when choosing how to spend my
time.
What’s your score? 0=No, 1=Sometimes 2=YesAdd it up your answers
0-8
Tips to Improve
● Do A Trend-Line View Reflection with Your Team● Rethink Status Updates Meetings
Tips to Improve
● Don’t schedule hour meetings by default
Being Present: How You Focus and Pay Attention
1. Our team schedules work according energy levels2. Our team is focused and engaged in meetings and not multi-tasking3. We have distraction free environment and time needed to complete the things that
require focus or strategic thinking.4. When I have free time, I know how to use it productively or restoratively.
What’s your score? 0=No, 1=Sometimes 2=YesAdd it up your answers
0-8
Tips to Improve
● Team wide analysis of most productive times during day● Have explicit team or organization policy about white space or
maker time
Tips to Improve
● Device free zones in your workplace● Meeting policy about use of devices to avoid “technoference”
Summary
Our personal and organizational use of technology can create stress leading to burnout. But if we are intentional about how we use our devices, we can be more productive, healthier, and happier.
Thank you!
www.bethkanter.org
The Happy Healthy Nonprofithttp://bit.ly/happyhealthynpbook
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved67
Learn and Share!
• Chat in one thing that you learned in today’s webinar or will try to implement.
• Will you share this information with your colleagues and within your network?
• Please complete the post-event survey that will pop up once the webinar ends!
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved68
Get Your TechSoup Courses!
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved69
Upcoming Webinars and Events
• 5/31 Libraries as Innovation Hubs: Community Driven Design
• 6/1 IT Staffing: Who are You Gonna Call?
• 6/8 How to Access TechSoup Donations and Resources
• Explore our webinar archives for more!
. © TechSoup Global | All rights reserved70
ReadyTalk offers dedicated product demos for TechSoup organizations 4 times per week.
For more information: www.techsoup.org/readytalk
Please complete the post-event survey that will pop up once you close this window.
Thank You to Our Webinar Sponsor!