Is your business overwhelming you? Not sleeping? Does working on certain parts of your business worry you? In this 2-part series we look at the process of stress and the 5 common business causes. Let’s start with the understanding the four elements of stress:
- Awareness of a Problem: Stress can’t start until there is an awareness of a problem, particularly when we react to an problem required immediate attention rather than proactively looking forwards at potential risks to give us more time and headspace to work through it
- Assessment of the problem: In other words, it is a real or imaged threat. Simply being aware of a problem won’t result in stress. For stress to occur, one needs to believe that the problem will cause harm, danger or difficulties- whether the problem really is harmful does not matter, it’s about perception and whether you think it matters.
- Inability to prevent or cope with the harm: If there is a perception that the problem cannot be overcome, then stress will result. This perception is based on our past experience, knowledge, and skills
- Dealing with the consequences: If the consequences of the problem are serious and if they are inadequately prevented or coped with, further stress can endure. More so, repeated unresolved problems can lead to a rise in stress levels, which if inadequately controlled, may lead to an overall failure to cope, even with the smallest of problems.
Takeaway activity:
- For your personal stress, try the 4 A’s from the Mayo Clinic or seek professional help.
- Complete this quick self-assessment to pinpoint your business strengths and the areas you may want to focus on- these gaps could be driving your stress so by understanding them, a plan and strategy to address them can be formulated
- To better manage your time, stress and priorities, take a look at time management framework
Further reading
