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Beth Kanter, guest speaker and facilitator of the first Spokes Nonprofit Symposium, engaged participants with her insights and resourceful approaches to organizational health in the workshop based on her book, The Happy Healthy Nonprofit. The Symposium was held on Friday, November 15, 2019.

According to Kanter, self-care is not a luxury but something that should be a part of how you do your work in order to get better results. “Creating a culture of wellbeing has benefits that are measurable, and these include things like fewer absences and sick days, lower health care costs, higher employee work satisfaction, and the ability to attract top talent and retain them.” Self-care leads to more successful networking, happier staff and volunteers, and more peace of mind for nonprofit leaders and Board members. Symposium attendees agreed that taking time for self-care in the workplace is not only needed, but is a crucial component to the overall morale and productivity in the nonprofit organization.

Beth asked attendees to take some time to analyze and actualize a new type of self-care for themselves so they can avoid burn-out. This included a demonstration of exercises featuring “4 Mindful Moment Techniques You Can Practice During Your Workday.”

The “Three Minute Mental Vacation Break” provided an easy and realistic practice to apply to any nonprofit leader’s busy schedule. In this exercise, Beth took attendees on a mini-vacation to Hawaii with a slideshow of sandy beaches and flowing waterfalls, set to the joyful rhythm of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s song Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

What is your self-care plan, and how can you improve it or build time into your day to begin it? As Beth suggests, “A written Self-Care Plan does not have to be a long document. In fact, the shorter, the better to start. You can always add to it as you progress through your self-care practices. Make a list of your Practice Goals or the specific actions you plan on taking to attend to your self-care.”

Overall, participants in this morning workshop walked away with a detailed personal plan for their self-care and multiple concepts and tips to share with staff in the workplace.

Relevant Trending Articles:

Taking a Break from Work: It Is Called a Vacation! Beth Kanter /

Self-Care Through Resiliency, Rhythms and Community

https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/self-care-resiliency-rhythms-community/

Register for the Spokes Nonprofit Symposium, Friday, November 15, 2019.

What would possess a hard-working, seriously busy nonprofit leader to take time from a hectic schedule and spend an entire work day at a nonprofit symposium? In light of all a nonprofit leader has to do, it may appear impractical to consider stepping away from responsibilities for even a day. But when you look at what is gained from attending a professional educational event, the benefits far outweigh everything else.

One purpose of an in-depth nonprofit symposium is to provide a time and space for like-minded professionals to come together to learn, discuss their thoughts, create new ideas, and get motivated. High-level educational gatherings can greatly enhance the professional development of a nonprofit leader. You can enrich your professional and personal insights by learning from seasoned industry professionals who can answer questions and customize information on the spot. Accessing this type of information at work with all its distractions would often not be possible.

Time spent pursuing self-improvement is invaluable. Improving yourself through educational experiences can boost you as an individual, and have a positive effect on those around you. Here are three excellent reasons to give yourself the gift of a professional learning experience as a nonprofit leader.

Professional Benefits: Expanding your leadership skills is a primary reason to attend a professional gathering. Conferences are designed to focus on specialized information, and no two conferences are alike even if the same, or similar information is provided. The people and mindsets vary as well as the conversations. If you don’t attend the symposium yourself, people can tell you all about it but you’ll never be able to have the same first-hand experience you get when you’re actually in the room. Even with all the free-flowing information available from various sources, there’s nothing like the experience of being in close contact with a professional presenter who is sharing new knowledge.
Social Benefits: Advancement in your professional career includes learning how to network and create strategic relationships with others. Participating in a symposium with peers who are seeking similar new knowledge provides unique social benefits. You get to mingle with professionals in your field to share thoughts and information on the latest research and key concepts. This can make your thinking more strategic as you engage in high-level discussions that help refine your ideas. Plus, you not only meet new people but you give others the opportunity to meet you to build connections that might otherwise never take place.
Fresh Perspective: Exposure to new concepts and practices is truly the most valuable reason to participate in a symposium or conference. The world continues to change unpredictably, and fresh ideas are imperative for a leader’s effectiveness in operating a nonprofit organization. Meeting other attendees with different experiences and thought processes can be the best way to energize and inspire you as you move forward. You have the opportunity to engage in conversations that let you think outside of the box while learning from professionals who make studying new concepts a regular part of their life. Additionally, you can find solutions to problems you have today or may confront in the future.

Seeking growth as a professional and finding the best way to stay current and successful in your field can be tough to do on your own. Join us on November 15 for the Spokes Nonprofit Symposium featuring internationally acclaimed facilitator Beth Kanter. Spend the day with an expert in nonprofit management along with professional peers from all over the Central Coast. Challenge yourself to step away from your daily routine, and prepare to immerse yourself in an enlightening, interactive learning experience!

For more information or to register for the Symposium, please click here.

Additional Resources:

12 Reasons You Should Attend Conferences. https://www.takeflyte.com/reasons-to-attend-conferences

Increase Your Skill Set: The Benefits of a Nonprofit Symposium

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