Technology

Daily Buzz: Managing the Effects of “Technostress”

Your employees might be feeling the pain of a tech overload. Also: the state of association marketing in 2020.

With the ubiquity of digital devices, organizations must contend with a new workforce challenge: technostress, which is the negative psychological reaction caused by the exposure to and inability to cope with new technology.

“New technologies are deployed in the digital workplace, and it would be all good—if we were always able to use them properly,” writes David Roe in CMSWire. “Instead, employees experience anxiety and a FOMO disorder (fear of missing out) that in extreme cases can lead to panic attacks, prolonged stress, drop in motivation, and burnout.”

To avoid technostress, organizations must understand the triggers. Too often, organizations provide workers with digital tools that don’t work properly. CMSWire reports that, in a survey of 463 executives by Simpler Media, most participants revealed that they were unhappy with their digital workplace technologies.

“Digital workplace tools are failing users, creating a huge disconnect between their strategic importance and operational use,” Roe says. “Hardly surprising, then, that digital workers are stressed.”

Organizations must also make sure not to saddle workers with more tools than they need. If you’re considering implementing new technology, take time to understand the problem you’re trying to solve and if it can be addressed using tools you already have. You should also think about your workforce demographics.

“The one thing to have in mind when introducing new technologies (apart from their usefulness or cost, obviously) is to understand whether your team is the proper ‘audience’ of such technologies,” Roe says.

Association Marketing Trends for 2020

The association marketing landscape is always evolving: To engage audiences in 2020, associations must first provide value before extracting value, writes Madgex’s Sergio Garcia in a recent blog post.

“Providing a diverse portfolio of free content through blogs, webinars, industry news, campaigns, social media, and more will go a long way in driving member acquisition,” Garcia says. “Not all of your content should be gated for members only.”

Other Links of Note

Having trouble with a coworker in your shared office space? Create a code of conduct, suggests Andrea Holthouser on the Network for Good blog.

Organizations need to do a better job of understanding and attracting millennial donors, writes Colleen Dilenschneider from Know Your Own Bone. She breaks down the generation’s philanthropic habits.

Giving thanks. Constant Contact’s River Cartie offers tips to craft a thank-you email.

(skynesher/E+/Getty Images Plus)

Michael Hickey

By Michael Hickey

Michael Hickey is a contributor to Associations Now. MORE

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