Creating Space for Change
You can't pour from an empty cup. 🍵
This simple truth pops into my mind often these days. It’s a great reminder that our energy and resources are finite. Yet, our to-do lists often seem to operate on the assumption that we have an unlimited supply. These lists not only occupy space on our desks but also take up precious mental and logistical bandwidth. They demand energy that, let's face it, isn't always readily available. The cycle becomes an energy suck where we slowly chip away, but generally just scrape the to-dos of the top and miss the opportunity to intentionally work on what matters to us and our mission.
So, how can we shift this dynamic? How do we move the needle closer to working in a way that enriches us rather than depletes us? Intentionally practice moving our team and work from grinding to thriving for our mission?
Hey there, fellow changemakers and leaders in the social impact sphere! It's Jane Dog here, and today, we're diving headfirst into a topic that's as elusive as finding a pen that works on the first try: protecting our time and energy. In the world of creating monumental shifts and chasing the winds of change, this might seem like an impossible feat. But hey, since when has the word "impossible" stopped us? We're the folks who eat impossible for breakfast and still make it to our first meeting on time (well, most days).
Let's talk about creating space. Not the kind you need a spaceship for, but the kind that allows us to breathe, innovate, and actually enjoy our coffee while it's still warm. Enter the Brico strategies for creating space. These are not your average tips; these are the battle-tested tactics we use when we're not busy saving the world.
1. Prioritize for Impact
First things first, let's get our priorities straight. It's like deciding whether to put on your left or right superhero cape in the morning. We need to figure out what's important and, crucially, what's actually doable in the time we have. Then, and only then, can we truly focus. This is not about spreading ourselves thinner than the last scrape of peanut butter in the jar; it's about impactful concentration.
2. Pause to Reflect
Ever feel like some tasks are just there to make you feel busy? Like that standing meeting that could easily have been an email. Or the optional report that reads like a bedtime story for insomniacs. Here's a radical idea: put a pause on everything for 2-3 weeks. It's like a time-out, but for work. See what you genuinely miss (if anything), and then only add back the essentials, but do it like you're adding seasoning to a gourmet meal - thoughtfully and sparingly.
3. Pitch the Sludge
Have you ever heard of the term, “organizational debt”? We've all got that organizational sludge - the processes and practices that clog up our workdays like a hairball in a drain. It's time for a clean-out. Reflect on these time-suckers and ask yourself: is this really necessary, or is it just a Band-Aid on a larger issue? Let's devise clever ways to identify, evaluate, and either streamline or completely eliminate this org debt. It's like spring cleaning, but for your work processes. Here’s a great article to get started on the process.
Organizational debt is the cumulative burden of outdated, inefficient, or redundant processes, practices, and policies that accumulate over time within an organization. Think of it like clutter in your home that you've grown used to; it's the extra stuff that takes up space, slows you down, and makes it harder to find what you need or move around freely. In the context of a workplace, this "debt" includes everything from unnecessary meetings and reports to complicated approval chains and outdated technology - all of which can impede progress, stifle innovation, and drain energy and resources. Just as with financial debt, if left unchecked, organizational debt can grow and become increasingly cumbersome, making it vital for teams to regularly identify, assess, and address these issues to maintain a healthy, productive work environment.
4. Power Up Your Tools
As we're sifting through our priorities and organizational sludge, we'll likely stumble upon tasks that are essential but ripe for automation using thoughtful technology. Before you scoff at this thought because you don’t have the first idea on how to automate or use those tools, here’s an idea.
Create a bike rack (an upgraded parking lot with fewer fumes) for these tasks. Whenever you come across a manual task that seems like a computer could do it without impacting the humany element of your work, jot it down.
Take time and workshop the ideas. Bring together your team, board members, volunteers, or anyone who cares about your organization and might have some technical prowess.
If you have no one with those skills look online! There are groups of people who care and can do this for organizations for free. Start here:
Catchafire: An organization that connects professional volunteers with nonprofits.
Tech to the Rescue: A nonprofit platform that connects tech companies with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help with tech-related issues.
Or hire someone. I promise if you do an ROI on how much time and energy it takes to do the task over and over and over - paying someone to build a thoughtful automation will likely payout in the end.
TechSoup Consultant Connection: Looking to pay for solutions, but not sure where to start? TechSoup provides a vetted list of consultants.
5. Propel Others
This strategy is all about trust and empowerment. It's like letting go of the back of the bicycle when teaching someone to ride. Let your team members level up by entrusting them with more responsibility. It's a win-win: they grow, and you get to step back and watch the magic happen (while possibly catching up on your own work). Don’t think of delegating as dumping. Do it thoughtfully and prepare for some training and guidance through the process.
⭐️ Here’s a good place to start: How to Delegate.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
All these strategies boil down to a combination of skills, tools, people, learning, and, you guessed it, practice. Each strategy might hit the mark once, but the real magic happens when they become second nature within your organization.
So, dear changemakers, as we wrap up this chat, remember: protecting our time and energy isn't just about making more time for work; it's about making our work more meaningful, impactful, and yes, even a bit more enjoyable. Let's embark on this journey of intentional space creation together, with a sprinkle of humor, a dash of realism, and a whole lot of hope. Because if anyone can turn the impossible into the possible, it's us.
Catch you on the flip side, where time is abundant, and coffee cups are always full.
Yours in change-making,
Jane Dog
