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Reflection from last 8 hours of training on @openlifesci, community building and volunteer work in #open #science and beyond:
Many people find it hard to say “no” to volunteer work - even when they are over worked and some of these work doesn’t offer them anything in return. 1/n
Many people find it hard to say “no” to volunteer work - even when they are over worked and some of these work doesn’t offer them anything in return. 1/n
There are many reasons:
- they know their work will help someone
- they don’t wanna disappoint their colleagues & bosses
- culturally they’re taught never to decline helping anyone
- they have high expectations from themselves
- they don’t carefully evaluate their capacity. 2/n
- they know their work will help someone
- they don’t wanna disappoint their colleagues & bosses
- culturally they’re taught never to decline helping anyone
- they have high expectations from themselves
- they don’t carefully evaluate their capacity. 2/n
In @openlifesci we talk about the importance of contributing to open science & how to help others contribute to your work. People develop their side project to something they‘re proud of. But we also teach how to be a good ally, a good leader & how to take care of each other. 3/n
Let me bring this up again #burnout in open science (and in academia in general) in prevalent.
We need to put practices (and promote them) in our workplace and communities to ensure that people feel proud to take care of their mental health and not feel ashamed to say “no”. 4/n
We need to put practices (and promote them) in our workplace and communities to ensure that people feel proud to take care of their mental health and not feel ashamed to say “no”. 4/n
A good leader would feel proud when someone in their community or team says “no” to another task or responsibility. Proud of the fact that they have created a project where people feel empowered to draw a line between their volunteer work and self care. This is unique. 5/n
Folks! don’t accidentally make people feel sorry for saying no.
These accidental responses may sound like: “oh! ...”
- this is the last thing in the list
- I wouldn’t have said no
- you can probably do it in the weekend
- it’s not that difficult
- this is not a big ask
... 6/n
These accidental responses may sound like: “oh! ...”
- this is the last thing in the list
- I wouldn’t have said no
- you can probably do it in the weekend
- it’s not that difficult
- this is not a big ask
... 6/n
Accidentally, because I know you all have best intent in your heart and you are trying to benefit others with your prohrct. But how you react to the act of saying no sets tone for how balanced your community members feel about being associated with your work. 7/n
