#WorkLifeBalance #StressManagement #SelfCare
Hey everyone, have you ever felt like your business is taking over, and it’s starting to make you an ugly person? 🤯
I recently had my only admin member quit on me, and I realized I’ve been overly critical of her. I’ve been feeling the pressure of running the business, and it’s starting to affect my relationships and my mental health. 😔
I want to be better. I want to manage my stress better. Here’s what I’m trying:
– Working out 6 days a week 🏋️♂️
– Booking in time off to recharge 🔋
– Journaling to reflect and release emotions 📝
– Considering counseling to get professional help 💬
What are some strategies you use to prevent your business from making you an ugly person? Let’s share our tips and support each other through this challenging journey! 🌟
Create some form of KPI system that would turn those criticisms into actionable feedback, with a direct route to disciplinary
If you’ve had multiple staff quit on you, then the problem is you. If this is your first hire, then the problem might be her. Not every hire is a good fit, and at the same time, not every boss is good. Take the time to reflect and understand what the actual problem is before jumping onto the next hire.
If you know for sure that your stress and reactions are the problem, then I think that’s a good start. Consider setting aside time for your hobbies or speaking to a therapist on how to manage and regulate your emotions.
Good luck!
Create a checklist and give her, so she can check it before ask for the approval.
Here is a few things that keep me in check a little bit. I have a small team of employees but have been adding 1 a year for the past few. When there are issues I ask myself 1) have I adequately trained this person in the area that they’re making mistakes? -the answer is usually no and 2) do I really expect someone to work as hard as me without actually owning the business? – no and tbh they shouldn’t.
Hire a VA to help you out. Lol!
I’m just creating an opportunity.
Delegating is not just enough, I guess you have to start trusting more as well, trust is built upon on both sides by constant investment of time from both sides. (employee & employer)
I would also suggest to read up the book Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene, it can help you in understanding different people, the reasons behind their behaviour and in the process get better better at trusting the right people.
I would suggest working out less often so that you have more free time. Also, don’t try to book time off. Actually book it. You say you want to try journaling and counselling. Well, what are you waiting for? Start today.
What is causing your stress though? And what’s your business?
What did the admin person do?
I would suggest speaking to a therapist. You sound self aware. Business is always going to be stressful, you control how you react to it.
Don’t be too hard on yourself mate!
Having and pushing for high standards is your job and role as the owner of the company.
But in the same breath building processes, manuals and quality controls that deliver to your high standards is also important. So that an average employee can follow these rules and deliver without making ‘mistakes’.
Re your stress, build a runway so that you can take things in your stride and give yourself the space to iterate to resolve issues and make progress.
Employees need clearly defined expectations and the tools to achieve
First off, it’s really commendable that you’re reflecting on your behavior and looking for ways to improve. Running a business can be incredibly stressful, and it’s easy to let that pressure affect how we interact with our team.
It sounds like you could benefit from better training (if there are still things to improve on) and clearer documentation for your processes. This can reduce mistakes and make your team feel more confident. Did you pay her well, considering the amount of work? Offering competitive salaries can motivate and retain top talent, and it’s worth it for the quality of work you’ll receive in return. Good communication is crucial, so providing constructive feedback and being open to their concerns can create a more positive work environment.
If you’re open to hiring someone new, feel free to hit me up. As a Virtual Assistant, I can help streamline your operations and manage your workload more effectively. Let’s see if we’re a match!
Take care and keep pushing forward. You’re on the right path!
The thing is, I believe there is massive potential that I might be super helpful for you on several layers of what I just read.
So according to rule three I am allowed to self promote, but sorry if I am being a bit to direct. The thing is. I work as a properly trained coach that helps people navigate situations like this. Helping means guiding your reflections, sort of like journaling, sort of like counseling. I am not here to claim to know your life or your business better than you do. I am here to bring the best out of your personality.
Im open to give you a zoom call of up to two hours for free, not holding back, no sales script, no pain point marketing or hard pitching but obviously also looking to get payed in the future if we gel well and this proves to be useful for you.
I can offer German/English.
Be clear in what is wrong. Look back at your criticism. Was it 100% clear that what she did was bad? Did it require your knowledge and experience to know it was bad, or would anyone off the street have known it was bad? Have you made it clear to her that she is capable and that you are happy to have her on the team? Was your response proportionate to the gravity of the mistake?
You are getting into the heart of what it means to micromanage, demand mind reading, be empathetic, and communicate. The real issue is that every time you’re harsh, you send the message that an entire domain is not okay. In any relationship, harshness has to be used extremely sparingly because it says you’re not allowed to take risks in this domain. If you want employees to be creative partners rather than scared order takers, you’re acting incorrectly.
Read “Difficult Conversations,” “Crucial Conversations,” “Nonviolent Communication” to begin with.
I’m curious, what is it that you do? What industry are you involved in? And are you located in the United States?