Long Hours and Stress

Some people can handle stress better than others. When in business, you can expect stress, especially for the owners, leaders and managers. There is no place to run and hide in your business if you want to be prosperous and grow. The stress and long hours that come with solving problems, training and supervising must be accepted and not affect your good decisions. The business, employees and customers expect management to guide the company and make positive decisions regardless of the stress involved.

One way to handle and manage stress is to prioritize tasks, especially the unpleasant ones, from the most important ones to those that can wait. If the IRS or State revenue agent is at your door, that would be a high priority. But a delay of delivery of a product to restock shelves can wait or delegated to a responsible person on your staff. All problems or issues are important but some can be less of a priority while more serious ones are taken care of first.

Sometimes a short term break from you business will regenerate you even an hour later. Leave your store, office or even home office and take a walk, restaurant lunch or go shopping. Don't take your phone with you so you will have a short time without new problems coming up. This break can help you make tough decisions and create ideas when you return. Long hours and stress are just part of running a business but they don't have to stop you from making important decisions and growing your business.

Barry is a business speaker, international author and business consultant who assists businesses grow. www.idealetter.com