By Colleen Baldrey, Growth Marketing Specialist at Moovila
Many people in tech are no stranger to the persistent, pessimistic voice in their heads. I’m certainly one them. For background, I worked in the software and web development side of tech before the IT Channel. After making this transition, I kept hearing a voice in my head telling me I wasn’t qualified enough. Afterall, I’m a relatively untechnical young woman. Not to mention, the people who work at and run MSPs are all very skilled with technology. I kept asking myself, “What do I have to offer this channel?”
Fortunately, my role provides the opportunity to directly engage with the members of this community. While settling into my new job, I stumbled upon a group like no other; The Tech Degenerates. This group of IT professionals pleasantly surprised me. They’re intelligent, successful individuals who do not gatekeep their knowledge, kindness, or sense of humor. I was uplifted by the warm welcome I received when introducing myself as a newcomer. After becoming acclimated to the group, I became invested in their current work struggles. Ultimately, I realized working in a “grind culture” industry could fuel mental health challenges, but the backing of a supportive community turns the lemons into lemonade.
I now realize what I was experiencing during my channel debut was a common mental health challenge with a name: Imposter Syndrome. According to one study as many as 82% of people have experienced it at some point. Another study found that 75% of female executives experience it. The self-doubt it causes can be debilitating. For me, having the support I found in this forum reminded me that I do know what I’m doing. It helped enormously.
75% of female executives
experience Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome is only one mental health challenge faced by those of us who work in the channel, though. This work is intense, demanding, and relies heavily on our brains. The workload can be brutal. The intellectual nature of the work requires that we game strategies for staying productive, managing a vast amount of information, and keeping complex projects moving forward for a large number of, often demanding, clients. We need our mental health for this.
Burnout is common
Tech burnout is a common issue in our industry. Some studies suggest that two out of every five tech workers may experience burnout. This is a term we all toss around casually. But it is a serious condition, the result of prolonged stress. It leads to exhaustion, cynicism, and professional inadequacy. According to researchers it causes physical changes to the brain. It is an illness that takes a heavy toll on healthcare costs and causes expensive turnover for tech companies.
There is no doubt that working hard in technology can lead to burnout. But it isn’t the workload or the challenges that cause it. It is, according to the U.C. Berkeley professor who pioneered the research into burnout, the result of a demanding workload in an organization where you have no control, receive insufficient reward, where the workplace might be socially toxic, where there is injustice, or where you are in conflict with the values of the group.
Finding a community that offers support, recognition, and advice – either in the workplace or online – doesn’t just feel good. It can be a prevention for burnout and even a cure.
Work isn’t the problem
William Pote of Redlands, California based IT consulting and maintenance company, eTop Technology, wrote about his mental health challenges on LinkedIn in a post that really stood out to me. It was his work, his MSP, his home life, and physical exercise that helped his mental health recovery. He received a lot of encouragement from that post! And his post encouraged others to take care of themselves. And if this chart that shows how many people, across the country are not getting enough sleep is any indicator, we all need to take better care of our mental health.
It might sound, with an endless to-do list in front of you, as if self-care is another task that you don’t have time for. But your work, clients, and profits do not need to suffer for you to take care of your mental health – and to encourage your team to do the same.
In a recent episode of the podcast, For the Health of I.T., Diana Giles, the owner and operator of Skyline IT Management spoke to Zac Paulson of ABM Technology Group about how taking care of your mental state is essential to growing a business and staying resilient through setbacks.
“When people in our industry talk about mental health and work/life balance,” she said, “I think there are some owners out there that have a negative reaction. They might think that means we aren’t going to get work done or be productive.”
But the opposite is true, as she points out, “There is work ethic. But there is also effectiveness. If your health is failing because you are burned out or stressed, you aren’t going to be doing much good.” And this is true no matter what your level, trust me I know.
Create a healthy work culture
In the original studies about burnout, done at Berkely in the 70s and 80s, it wasn’t the work that damaged people’s mental health. It was overload, insufficient reward, and a toxic workplace that did it.
This is why it is so important to focus on the work – the actual tasks – you accomplish rather than measuring your contribution and that of your team’s by the hours you put in.
"You have to create metrics for
each employee that tells them what success looks like."
– Zac Paulson of ABM Technology Group
“It is a copout to not have created good understanding of what success looks like,” says Paulson in Giles’ podcast. “It should not be a question of how many hours people log, it should be a question of what they get done. For this, you have to create metrics for each employee that tells them what success looks like.”
If they are getting the tickets or tasks done – even if they leave the office before you – you can reward or celebrate them for that. That way they have the motivation to get the job done. In my experience, it’s easy to stay motivated and work hard for bosses who care about your mental health. Without a feeling of community and success at work, burnout kicks in. You lose your passion. You start making mistakes.
As Paulson puts it on For the Health of I.T. , “If you have 65, 70, or 80 hours logged for the week, you start recognizing the signs. You start making mistakes. You start dropping the ball. It’s time to check out.”
He takes time completely away from work when that happens – or before it happens – and goes into the wilderness where there are no phones, cars, or internet connections. He also encourages his staff to take time for themselves – a few days after traveling to an event to explore a new place, with their families, whatever is appropriate – so they don’t burn out. In essence, every person needs to find their version of ‘going into the wilderness’ - be it reading, going for a walk, or whatever it is that slows your roll (aka chills you out). This is my challenge to you this year – find your happy place, and make unapologetic time for it! I know the IT Channel will be here for you when you get back.
Colleen Baldrey is a Growth Marketing Specialist at Moovila. Look for her on Discord in The Tech Degenerates or MSPGeek, where she helps answer MSPs’ questions about project management and Moovila. She is passionate about building community and focusing on mental health, whether at home or at work. If these are things you’re passionate about as well, we welcome you to connect with Colleen on LinkedIn.
