People · Reflection

Episode 58: I am busy.

We are hearing it all the time. We ask someone “How are you?,” and their response is “Busy!”  We get asked, and our natural response is the same: “I’m so busy.” In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about why “busy” can work against what we are really trying to achieve.  They explore the emotions behind it and alternatives to describe how we are actually doing. Ultimately we are busy doing important things, and we want to invite conversation about that. 

Question to reflect on before you listen:
How often do you respond to “How are you?” with “I am busy”? 

Discussion questions:

  1. What resonated with you about this conversation? What would you like to take back to your organization?
  2. What might you say instead of “I am busy”?
  3. How could you look at what you are doing to make yourself less busy?

Word of the week: Busy
What emotion does the word “busy” bring to mind to you? When you think about talking with members of your nonprofit community, what emotion would better serve your mission?



What do you think?