Get a New Business Card: Goodbye Accidental Techie, Hello "Purposeful Techie"
Flickr Photo: annesliceI came a cross a great article in onPhilanthropy about "accidental techies" in the nonprofit sector. I haven't heard the term in awhile, actually, and was beginning to think that this category of nonprofit staffer had evolved -- as technology has evolved -- beyond the original scope of the term.
When I heard the term, I imagined Sally DoGood, a Program or Administrative Assistant at a local nonprofit who helped her organization move management of their donors' and constituents' information from index cards and file cabinets to spreadsheets on the computer. Sally also updated her organization's web page by using installed software like Dreamweaver. And when the printer's toner needed replacing (or just shaking) or if a paper jam disrupted the office workflow, Sally would be the one to assess and fix the situation correctly.
But with the spread of online and low-cost software, and with easy access to online communities of users who offer support and recommendations, Sally's day-to-day work has probably changed a lot. Now she and others at her organization rattle off terms like "blog," "CRM," and "CMS" with ease.
In the onPhilanthropy article, written by Mark Shaw of NPower Michigan (who happen to be members of NTEN), we are reminded that accidental techies still exist -- especially in this economic environment that promotes cut-backs more than investments in staff or infrastructure. Mark says the real identifier of an "accidental techie" is that his or her involvement with technology decisions and developments at the organization are side-tasks, extra work on top of his or her core job responsibilities.
Mark envisions a new, more effective role for the accidental techie, however, and offers specific steps for turning the "accidental techie" into "The Purposeful Techie":
"It starts with retraining organizations and the individuals in this position to think about the role as not that of a passive recipient, but of an organizational victor."
Mark brilliantly turns the 5 common negative aspects of the Accidental Techie -- accidental, unappreciated, random, distracted, and isolated -- upside down to create strengths.
This is a very good read for nonprofit staff and leaders. How have you become proactive with your "accidental techie" status? How have you conquered the 5 indicators above? Are you still fixing paper jams? Tell us how you've flipped your "accidental techie" role into a purposeful role for yourself and your organiztion.
I have been in the role of the accidental techie in my past jobs. I took on tasks that no one else would when it came to learning about the new computer or new device in the office. I have learned that "if you step up when it concerns technical gear, others will step back"! It's the same way in every organization. However, managers also need to be aware that there will always be "someone" who will take responsibility for running the new piece of equipment. Those that do, should be compensated because they will become the expert and quickly. Why? Because no one else will want to do it! Managers can use this to both the accidental techie and their own benefit!
What I find so interesting is that I've unintentionally walked the line between accidental and purposeful techie for awhile now. I'm an AmeriCorps member, and so for the last couple of years I've been going into situations that I knew I'd be leaving within a year. That means my accidental techie status (which just seems to follow me around) is a short-term deal. Being cognizant of that the whole time shifted my focus from doing things to teaching people how to do the things themselves. The nice thing about that is that it does help with the sharing of the burden as Jeff described.
I find Mark's article and the response to it interesting. One issue I would raise with it is that the responsibility for affecting this change still rests on the individual who didn't necessarily want the job in the first place. Changing organizational culture while changing toner cartridges is an uphill slog. The good organizational leader will respond well to an accidental techie transforming herself into a purposeful techie, but the better leader will skip that drama altogether.
What's more, there may be another shift going on in the sector that will enable nonprofit technology problems to be solved closer to the source: spreading responsibility around by articulating the IT skills required to perform all functions. Tech knowledge is not for a select few anymore. Virtually every job in a nonprofit will require the use of technology.
In a survey project that is still in progress in Pittsburgh, we're finding an increase in the rate of job descriptions with technology skills written into them: from 31% in 2004 to 36% in 2006 to 43% this year. Here's a little post about it: http://nptechsurvey.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/job-descriptions/
As important as recruiting IT people with appropriate skills is articulating expectations of what it means to be a good user who can do the job, whether the job is in program, administration or fundraising.