Exploring techno-stress and digital overload with Elizabeth Marsh

The volume of digital tools and platforms available to improve how we work expands by the day. But how effectively are we, as users of those products, integrating them into our daily work habits? What provision is made by organisations to make sure their internal stakeholders are skilled to optimally use these tools? And what is the long-term impact on the users trying to keep up with increasingly digital workplaces?

In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Elizabeth Marsh who researches the effect of all-digital on organisational health. A keynote speaker at the IoIC’s 2021 festival, Elizabeth specialises in digital upskilling and digital health.

This conversation explores the intersection between new workplace technology and the future-readiness of internal stakeholders to embrace increasingly AI-fuelled operating environments.

Takeaways

• Techno stress is a psychological and physiological strain from technology use.
• Organisations have a responsibility to provide effective digital tools.
• The rapid pace of technology changes can lead to feelings of disempowerment.
• Availability expectations contribute to increased techno stress.
• Different age groups experience techno stress differently.
• Good communication practices are essential for managing digital overload.
• Internal communicators play a crucial role in fostering conversations about technology use.
• Digital mindfulness can help individuals manage their technology interactions.
• Organisations should prioritise employee wellbeing in digital transformations.
• Asking questions about technology use is vital for understanding and improvement.

About Elizabeth Marsh

Elizabeth Marsh is an expert on workforce skills and wellbeing in digital contexts. She has over 20 years of experience in the digital workplace industry, working in range of organisations and roles - as a practitioner, consultant and researcher.

Her consulting and research span topics such as digital dexterity including AI readiness, protecting wellbeing in context of issues such as technostress and overload, and the role of digital workplace and communications professionals in mitigating them.

She supports organisations with digital skills audits and recommendations for raising digital dexterity and protecting wellbeing. In 2014 she co-authored 'The Digital Renaissance of Work' book and in 2018 released 'The Digital Workplace Skills Framework' report. Now in the latter stages of an ESRC 'Digital Society' PhD at the University of Nottingham, she has recently published to peer reviewed journals on the 'dark side' of technology and optimising digital worker well-being.

Find Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmarsh/

Elizabeth’s website: https://digitalworkresearch.com/