--- title: "Daily Buzz: How to Push Forward When You’re Understaffed" id: "47837" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-how-to-push-forward-when-youre-understaffed" published_at: "2019-08-30T15:30:43+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T02:01:28+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/30/daily-buzz-how-to-push-forward-when-youre-understaffed/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/30/daily-buzz-how-to-push-forward-when-youre-understaffed.md" excerpt: "Down a few employees? Feeling understaffed? You need to get everyone on the same page. Also: To feel more fulfilled, embrace variety as the spice of life." taxonomy_category: - "Career Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Career Tips" - "Mid-Level Professional" - "professional growth" - "work fulfillment" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: How to Push Forward When You’re Understaffed Sometimes it can feel like there aren’t enough people to get everything done in a day. Other times, there*really* aren’t enough people on staff. Whatever the reason behind being understaffed, it’s important to have the existing team on the same page. Sit down and create a game plan for next steps, including assigning roles where needed. “If each employee in an organization is wearing tons of different hats, it can be frustrating to know who to go to for what,” [Olivia Layne writes on Nonprofit Hub (opens in a new tab)](https://nonprofithub.org/featured/small-but-mighty-how-to-power-through-when-staff-is-low/) . “But if you know exactly who has the know-how and the time to dedicate to each issue, you can speed up the whole process. It not only makes the process faster, but better because you know it’s what that person does best.” Once the team has a handle on who is taking care of what, it’s time to prioritize which tasks to tackle or issues to solve first. Remember that you’re all human and can only take on so much. “If you’re getting stressed about everything, chances are that the rest of your team is feeling it too,” Layne says. “It’s important to use this time to appreciate your coworkers. Take some time to talk with them about their lives, ask them how their day is going―anything to show that you care about them.” ### How Work Contributes to Fulfillment > Where do professionals find fulfillment? The results might surprise you! [https://t.co/hfje8wFPYo (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/hfje8wFPYo) > by [@nmarzano (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/nmarzano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#ASAE (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASAE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Amanda Lea Kaiser (@AmandaLeaKaiser) [August 28, 2019 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/AmandaLeaKaiser/status/1166712270992416768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **How does work fit into fulfillment?** According to one survey, work was cited as the third biggest fulfillment source, right behind friendships and romantic relationships, [says Nick Marzano, who led the survey, on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/workplace-fulfillment-numbers-nick-marzano/) . The survey also showed that work-life integration might be the most important factor when it comes to feeling happy. “Family, friends, hobbies, and volunteerism don’t squeeze out room for meaning in work,” Marzano says. “Both overall and work fulfillment increased with reports of greater variety in sources of fulfillment.” ### Other Links of Note **Beefing up your Instagram strategy?**The MemberClicks blog outlines [key takeaways from the 2019 Instagram Engagement Report (opens in a new tab)](https://blog.memberclicks.com/report-whats-working-and-whats-not-on-instagram) . **If you’re still using** words like “tradeshow” and “exhibit halls” at expos, [it’s time for a rebrand (opens in a new tab)](https://velvetchainsaw.com/2019/08/28/transform-your-expo-into-a-networking-and-learning-destination/) , according to Velvet Chainsaw. **Another way to go green** at meetings: [reducing food and beverage waste (opens in a new tab)](https://www.eventmarketer.com/article/brands-tackling-event-food-waste-challenges/) , says *Event Marketer*. (bowie15/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Career Tips](https://associationsnow.com/tag/career-tips/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) [#professional growth](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-growth/) [#work fulfillment](https://associationsnow.com/tag/work-fulfillment/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoChristine Diedrich Shares Her CAE JourneyApril 25, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/25/christine-diedrich-shares-her-cae-journey/) - [VideoASAE’s The ExchangeApril 24, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/24/asaes-the-exchange/) - [PodcastBridging the Gap: Career Development in AssociationsApril 24, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/24/bridging-the-gap-career-development-in-associations/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F08%2F30%2Fdaily-buzz-how-to-push-forward-when-youre-understaffed%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !