04/ 17/ 2006
by Glenn Townes
The connection between the mind and the body has long been apparent; the connection between your health and the success or demise of your small business is also apparent yet seldom discussed. Business owners frequently push themselves to the brink on all fronts to make their business a success. Sometimes, the pressure and stress of running a business affects both the physical and mental health of business owners.
Entrepreneurs can push themselves so hard that it negatively affects stress levels and causes health issues. Negative stress often creates chemical reactions in the body that lead to disease and other problems. A business owner may indeed feel under the weather, but still force himself to come to work for the sake of the business.
Consider this frequent scenario: When a business owner comes to work sick, he or she may infect employees, leading to an additional loss of productivity. The cycle progresses when an employee’s children become ill. The business incurs yet another expense for loss time when employees take time off to care for their sick children. In this case, it’s easy to see how a small business with between 10 to 60 employees could be impacted significantly by one person’s misguided decision to come to work sick.
Ultimately, the health of your company direct affects your personal health. You should give top priority to your personal well-being. Here are some ways to lay the groundwork for this and ensure time for yourself.
- Develop built-in, well-established safeguards in case of absences so if one person is out sick, another member of the team––not you––can assume the role and tasks in the absence of another.
- Lead by example. Employees watch and remember you say or do. If, as the leader/owner of the company, you take a sick day and are justified in doing so, this will send a message to your employees. Your staff will know that health is a priority and that, if they are truly sick and need to stay home, the action will not be frowned upon.
- Develop a well-advised, savvy team. Make sure that all of your employees know the basics and can cover for each other during times of crisis or company setbacks.
- Set limits and know the limits. Working when you're sick and not up to your best stifles and muddles creativity and depletes energy and stamina. Don't make hasty and rash decisions that may have lasting effects that could be detrimental to your business.
Finally, there is no real pride or reward in being a workaholic. To some, the word is synonymous with success and even wealth. There is, however, often a deep-rooted, underlying reason why someone is a workaholic, particularly if that individual is a business owner. Ask yourself: Are you striving to live up to someone else’ expectations? Are you unhappy in your personal life? Do you have a personal life? Are you afraid that delegation and allocation compromises quality? Of course, the obvious answer is that the work needs to be done. But challenge yourself to take a close look into why you feel the need to do it all yourself.
Your health is vital the health of your business. Just as the mind and body are connected, so is the health and soul of your small business!
