Pace Yourself

Small business leaders must learn to pace themselves, take vacations, and not decide important decisions when tired.

Making a decision when tired can increase the chances of choosing the wrong alternative, according to risk analysis experts who have studied why people often choose the worst option.

When examining plane crashes, experts point to studies showing pilot fatigue, even after a mandatory rest period, makes poorer decisions, even in dire situations. The National Transportation Board has numerous studies demonstrating fatigue contributes to fatal ancients only slightly lower than alcohol and drugs.

Why, then, should small business leaders worry about fatigue? Because it is contributing factor in many company failures. Moreover, many managers fail to realize they are not functioning at 100% because of continuing tiredness caused by devoting almost all their efforts to the business.  

To succeed, small business leaders must devote almost all their waking hours to the business in its formative years. 

The stress of total commitment often takes its toll as the company moves into its growth years.

During the initial start-up period, the adrenaline drawn from the exhilaration of building the company provides fuel to sustain them. As the years go by, the constant attention to continue the successful trajectory gradually erodes mental and physical resources.

Trying to start and grow a business is stressful, and many people will experience burnout, fatigue, or depression.

Exhausted entrepreneurs can harm their businesses — as their day-to-day decision-making and cognitive skills may suffer.

“Entrepreneurs have one of the loneliest professions in the world,” says business scaling coach Tony DiSilvestro. “One thing I really wish entrepreneurs would do more is talk with other entrepreneurs.”

“Go to the business next door and have a cup of coffee with the owner. Talk about your struggles, learn from each other. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, don’t be afraid to ask a question.”

In a recent survey, 55% of small business owners said they had not taken a vacation in two years or more. Another 44% said they did not have an outside person to discuss company issues. Almost 80% indicated they thought about the company seven days a week and most waking hours.

Business consultant Karyn Greenstreet wrote that over 67% of the small business owners she spoke with regularly have told her they’re feeling fatigued, burned out, and lacking motivation.

Some experts think the challenging events of the past few years and the subsequent greater costs of doing business are adding to leadership woes. Some leaders take dealing with these newer issues is stride. But others think dealing with these obstacles has added to the strains and fatigue of company leaders.

Some signs of Fatigue:

1. Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed

No energy to do the work you used to love doing and dread the To-Do list  

2. Feeling frustrated and cynical

Issues cloud the excellent work happening in your company 

3. Thinking well is a chore

Forgetting things and making decisions takes time and effort.

4. Dropping your performance

Personal work standards are slipping.

5. Work is always with you, even at home

The office is always with you.

6. People skills are eroding

Other workers avoid a short-tempered, abusive boss.

7. Nothing seems good enough

Negatives come first in any situation, and the positives are ignored.

8. Socialization is no longer important

Socialization is nonexistent at work or home.

9. Sleep comes hard

Taking medication is an important sign of stress.

10. Health issues arise

Well-being is an important sign of fatigue or worse.

Some suggested solutions:

When stepping away from the job that is causing stress isn’t possible — and for most people, it’s not — there are still tools entrepreneurs can use to fight their burnout:

· Get enough sleep 

· Delegate more and 

· Hire people to do the jobs you don’t enjoy

· Find a passion outside of work 

· Devote more time to family and friends

· Walk outside more 

· Join or start conversations with other entrepreneurs

· Strengthening social relationships 

One consultant said she did not care what her clients did as long as it was different.

But the most important thing is to recognize tiredness when it happens, not after making a catastrophic decision.