Sometimes I’m so focused on thinking about business owner mindset that I neglect to return to basics and just talk about stress indicators. I’m often asked to describe what stress might look like when you are a business owner. Well, I don’t think it discriminates. Stress indicators may look similar to others, but the difference is how it might impact others. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are usually acutely aware of how their wellbeing is linked to all the stakeholders attached to their business.
For example, we think about our partners, our employees, our customers, our suppliers, our work neighbours and of course, all those statutory bodies who want something from us.
We’re rarely stressed without also thinking about others.
So, what might stress look like when you’re a small business owner? Here are some red flags:
- Not socialising with others at work. This might be with staff or maybe at a coworking location.
- Avoiding calls and text messages. Behind on BAS payments? Sometimes it feels easier to pretend a call was never made than deal with the situation.
- Reacting quickly or differently to a situation. We all have bad days, but if behaviour changes are more regular, that may be a sign of stress.
- Not sleeping well.
- Not being able to focus or concentrate. Sometimes we hear conversations but we simply don’t process them when feeling stressed.
- Your brain and body aren’t at the same events. It may be that your body has gone to that family birthday dinner, but your brain is still at work, and thinking about work.
Once you know the signs, begin to track them. Make a note of what you see or how you’re feeling. Once you can see that this is unusual behaviour, it might be time to talk to someone. At the very least it will be helpful to identify what is happening to trigger the stress response, and start working on that.
