Understanding and Managing Work Related Stress

Marie is a successful businesswoman who has started her own business from ground zero. She is proud of her accomplishments, but she also works very hard to maintain them. She is always under pressure to meet deadlines in order to keep the business running smoothly. Recently, however, Marie finds herself plummeting jobwise and healthwise. 

She is experiencing headaches, anxiety and even lost confidence in the way she is running her business. Sleeping at night has now become a thing of the past and feeling constantly exhausted has started to take its toll. Her work is starting to suffer as a result and she is worried that she might not be able to keep up with her everyday duties of maintaining her employees, customers and products. 

It is clear that the effects of stress have become too severe for her to cope with. Will Marie succumb to the increasing weight of these symptoms or will she find a better work life balance and overcome her stress? 

What is Stress? 

Every business owner experiences stress at some point in their lives. It is a natural response to any situation that seems threatening or overwhelming. In small doses, stress can actually be helpful, providing the motivation and focus needed to meet a deadline or even deal with a difficult situation. 

According to psychologists, when we sense danger, our bodies release a burst of hormones to fuel the “fight-or-flight” response. This increases the heart rate and blood pressure, giving us a boost of energy. This natural response is meant for protection, but it can also have adverse effects if it’s constantly triggered by threats and especially not channelled in the right direction. The body can also overreact to stressors that are not life-threatening; such as traffic jams, work pressure, and family difficulties.

How can Stress Negatively Impact your Life?

When the stressors are constant and occur over an extended period of time, they can have a major impact on our physical health. When we’re stressed our body releases cortisol, a hormone that helps us deal with the stress. Cortisol plays an important role in our bodies, but when we’re constantly under pressure, we automatically produce too much of it. This can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, chronic stress can also weaken our immune system and make us more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.

Not only does it take a toll on our physical health; but it can also affect our mental health. Stress can cause anxiety, depression, insomnia, irritability and a host of other problems. It can also lead to memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and poor decision-making. 

Sources of Business Owner-Related Stress

Every business comes with its own unique set of stresses. Let’s take a look at some of the major sources as well as some suggestions that may help.

1. Employees

• Not meeting expectations – This can have a ripple effect throughout the entire organisation. Productivity suffers, morale drops, and resources are wasted as managers scramble to handle the outstanding work. This causes a major disruption in the workflow, setting back progress that has already been made.

Suggestion – Seek to set realistic expectations for employees and clearly communicate those expectations from the beginning. 

• Refusing to work as a team – A lack of team effort can lead to feelings of isolation and resentment among team members who are forced to pick up the slack. The possibility of increased turnover also exists. Furthermore, creativity and innovation can be stifled, as employees are less likely to share new ideas if they feel they won’t be supported by their teammates.

Suggestion – Encourage teamwork and collaboration among employees by organising team-building activities or holding regular meetings to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

• Not adhering to company policies – This can be a major source of stress as it puts the company at risk of legal action or possible financial loss. Additionally, it can erode trust between the employer and employees involved, while damaging morale within the workplace. 

Suggestion – Make sure that company policies are clear and enforced in order to avoid any potential problems down the road. Scheduled performance reviews will help create opportunities to quickly address and guide employees toward best practices.

By taking these steps, you can help reduce the amount of stress that your employees can cause you.

2. Customers 

• Complaints – No matter how hard you try, there will always be some customers who are never happy. It is important to remember that not every customer is going to be satisfied with your product or service. 

Suggestion – It is important to listen to customer complaints and see if there is anything you can do to improve the situation. If a customer is behaving in a way that is preventing other customers from enjoying their experience, it may be necessary to take action.

• Demanding Customers – Some customers may be more demanding than others. They may want something done immediately or may expect you to accommodate their schedules. 

Suggestion – While it is important to try to accommodate the needs of your customers, you should also set boundaries so that you are not taken advantage of. 

• Time-consuming Customers – Some customers may take up a lot of your time without making a purchase. They may ask lots of questions or want to see every product in your store. 

Suggestion – While it is important to provide good customer service, you should not let these types of customers monopolise your time. 

3. Meeting deadlines 

Meeting deadlines is an inherent part of being a business owner. Whether it’s a project that’s due for a client or a task that needs to be completed for your team. It can feel like you’re always racing against the clock. Not only is there a pressing need for getting the job done on time, but there may also be a lot of money riding on your ability to meet the deadline. Additionally, if there’s a failure in reaching the target, serious consequences can be faced, such as losing customers or being fined. 

Suggestion – There are some things that can be done to make the process easier. For example: 

1. Be sure to allow enough time to complete each task

2. Delegate when necessary

3. Create a system for tracking all of your deadlines

By taking these measures, you can minimise the amount of stress you feel and increase your chances of meeting all of your targets successfully.

4. Change 

• Unpredictable – When you’re running a business, it’s important to have some stability. However, change is often unpredictable, which can make it difficult to plan for and manage.
• Costly – In addition to being unpredictable, change can also be costly. When businesses make changes, they often have to invest money in new products, services, or systems. This cost can add up quickly, putting a strain on the business’ finances.
• Disruptive – There is usually a disruption of workflow accompanying change. This can lead to decreased productivity and increased stress levels for employers and employees. 

Suggestion – Change is an inevitable part of the business world but that doesn’t mean it has to be a source of stress for business owners. By being aware of the potential stresses that come with change and taking steps to manage them, you can help keep your business running smoothly during times of transition.

5. Financial constraints 

When there is not enough money to cover expenses due to limited resources, tight budgets, or high overhead costs, this can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety. Financial limitations can have a significant impact on day-to-day operations. When businesses are facing cash flow problems, for example, they may find it difficult to meet payroll or make payments on time. This can lead to late fees and sky-rocketing interest charges, which only exacerbate the problem. In some cases, businesses may even be forced to close their doors due to financial difficulties. 

Suggestion – This is obviously something that all business owners would want to avoid. By developing a budget, staying organised, and seeking professional help when needed, you can effectively manage your finances and avoid stressful situations down the road.

Solutions For Overcoming Stress

1. Identify your Triggers

The first step to managing stress is identifying what triggers it. Is it checking your email first thing in the morning? Is it dealing with difficult customers? Is it trying to do too many things at once? Once you know what triggers your stress, you can start to develop coping mechanisms. 

For example, if checking your email first thing in the morning is a trigger, try checking it later in the day instead. If difficult customers are a trigger, try preparing ahead of time with some responses that diffuse the situation. If you’re taking on too much at once, try delegation or time management techniques to help you focus on one task at a time. 

2. Develop Coping Mechanisms

Once you know what triggers your stress, you need to develop coping mechanisms. This looks different for everyone, but some coping mechanisms include exercising, journaling, meditating, and spending time in nature. Find what works for you and make sure to incorporate it into your daily routine. 

3. Ask for Help when Needed

Asking for help can be hard, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything alone. When the stresses of business start to feel overwhelming, reach out to your support system. Family, friends and even others in a similar field of work can offer great assistance for emotional support. They can provide a listening ear, shared experiences, and a shoulder to cry on. If that’s not enough, perhaps then it’s time to take it a step further by seeking professional help from a therapist. Always bear in mind that untreated mental health issues can lead to serious consequences. 

The good news is that there are effective ways to manage stress and improve your overall health. By learning and adapting to healthy coping mechanisms, business owners can minimise the impact of stress on their lives as well as that of their employees.