The hidden anxieties and dilemmas of a Print business owner and the 10 common things and more that create you stress?
Find more blogs from Marcus Clifford on Eye on Display here.
In the latest blog from the PrintBoosterologist – Marcus Clifford, he says you are a Print human, and there is a solution.
I often discuss with business owners the issue of motivation and ask who motivates the motivator. That is, who helps you, who gives you energy, who helps inspire you? Other people working in a business rarely think about this or indeed verbalise it and often see the role of the owners to pay the wages, ensure ongoing employment, make their jobs interesting, create opportunity. They expect you to be a superhuman! Complex things are at play nowadays and business owners all struggle with similar things.
There are now a lot more moving parts to manage in business. As a business coach who understands what keeps you awake at night, I have been there running businesses faced with difficult issues and turnarounds. Adding to my credentials as I find it relevant to life and just reviewing what being a human means and entails, I have just finished a course in Existential coaching, a powerful agent for change, growth, understanding and transformation.
Four core concerns challenge us all in everyday living and manifest across themes such as time, endings, choice, decision-making, uncertainty, authenticity, identity, autonomy, and the self, the impact of others and the importance of ‘world-views’ and beliefs. These are heightened in a leadership environment. I often write about the VUCA world we operate in full of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and uncertainty. How can we manage such factors more effectively? Call me to discuss.
Business owners struggle with the same existential givens as of course we are all human. Arguably they are more courageous, have a different drive and have and continue to take calculated risks.
But they are arguably more open to Existential issues due to the nature of their position, the weight of the responsibility, the complexity of relationships and magnitude of the their task. Business and Life are hard to separate but not impossible.
I have also written before about how business owners as a survival tool have embraced being more philosophical since Covid in particular. Its a self defence mechanism so we understand already some understanding of coping.
Life and business Life meet in this environment and you might want to discuss change the underlying issues once and for all and grow with someone who understands our sector, the challenges you face has worked across it in many change and growth roles and can discuss any area of a business and options.
Stress is a huge problem for business owners and those in a position of great responsibility. I was told by a CEO many years ago of a multi £100 m turnover business ‘to lead was an honour’, but I see many leaders across our sector who have differing views depending on the nature of the day and its demands!
The Ten Most Common Stressors in Business (Though there are always more!)
It’s unsurprising that 42% of SME owners find staff management their biggest source of stress. Building a cohesive, motivated team that moves in the right direction while staying productive and happy is no small task. To succeed, businesses need to harness their team’s energy, foster meaning and purpose, and align with a clear internal and external vision.
Bureaucracy and red tape often weigh heavily on businesses, and successive governments haven’t made it any easier. 35% of entrepreneurs describe administrative work as a “major obstacle” for their business. Running a business solo may seem like honest hard work, but it can take a severe toll on personal and business health.
A third of SME owners find key decision-making to be highly stressful, knowing that costly mistakes could jeopardise their company’s future. It’s a significant burden to carry.
One way to ease this pressure is by cultivating a culture where you and your team celebrate everyday wins. Recognising ‘near successes’ and prioritising business planning can shift the focus. Set short-term, micro goals and celebrate incremental progress. My ‘Pep and Tonic’ sessions are designed to support you in this area.
I frequently meet directors who are weighed down by unnecessary feelings of failure, thinking they’ve let everyone down. In reality, confronting the challenges head-on might be the key to turning things around. This doesn’t require a lengthy strategy paper but rather a straightforward “ready, aim, fire” plan that identifies options with higher probabilities of success.
Regulatory compliance is another common stressor, with 26% of SME owners reporting that staying up-to-date with changes is costly and stressful. Some business owners, however, have managed to turn these challenges into opportunities, using compliance as a springboard for marketing campaigns and new business growth.
Managing cash flow is practically a full-time job, and securing payments has become increasingly difficult, consuming time and resources while driving stress levels higher.
Customers are the lifeblood of your business, and unfortunately, they know it. Finding, engaging, and retaining customers is more challenging than ever, and balancing their needs with profitability can feel like walking a tightrope. My ‘Pep and Tonic’ sessions also cover strategies to address this.
Another issue many business owners face is imposter syndrome, which isn’t surprising considering they often wear many hats. Handling a wide array of challenges while life throws unexpected curveballs can leave owners questioning their qualifications. However, research shows that the best way to overcome this feeling is to accept imperfections as part of the learning process.
Time pressure is another major stressor. Running a business demands long hours and constant multitasking. With workloads increasing and time in short supply, it often feels like there’s no other option.
These pressures can take a serious toll on your health and mental well-being. Talking through practical solutions with someone else can be liberating and lead to positive outcomes.
This is how a good Coach can help. One of the easiest, but most overlooked stress solutions for business owners is asking for help. Call me and in a trustful space, pause, reflect, explore positive and practical solutions to progress.
Marcus Clifford 0774 381 8806 Marcus@printboosterologist.solutions
As the business owner you automatically feel everything stops with you. But there are limits.
* Research by Xero www.xero.com
