 | John Madden
helps organizations and people become more profitable. He does this by sharing successful techniques, which have worked for him and others. John is an International speaker, trainer, and consultant who formerly managed multiple hotels and restaurants in Europe and here in the United States. He has presented lectures and seminars to all industries throughout this country and abroad-on customer service, coaching skills, problem solving, and stress reduction through humor. John is a member of the National Speakers Association and has authored several articles and audiotapes on customer service, creative problem solving, and humor. You can reach him at
316-689-6932; email:john@leapdontsleep.com; or at his web site:
www.LeapDontSleep.com |
Business
2002-12-01 17:13:00
Stress... !@%$#^&%&*!
: I've just opened a new business and I haven't been able to rest for weeks. The pressure is on for the next few months as we develop and grow the business. Tension levels are very high. There is so much to do in a short time. How can we lower the pressure and anxiety, without lowering our service to our new customers?
ANSWER: There is no doubt that starting a business is very stressful for most people, especially if it's your first time.Part of the problem is that your normal pace of work tends to speed up dramatically with all the new responsibilities, horrible deadlines, and your dependency on so many people. Although you knew what to expect, you may not be as prepared as you would like to be. The following tips will play an important part in minimizing pressure, while maintaining good productivity.Acknowledge the status quo. Acknowledge that this is going to be a hectic time. Be aware in advance of how much of your time this project will demand, and accept that some things will typically go wrong no matter how organized you are - you've heard of "Murphy's Law." It's when we are surprised by events that we tend to react. When you know what to expect, you are better equipped to respond.Plan to be ready. Make a list of problems that typically come up in your type of venture and type them up. Next to each problem, type out what you can do about it if it occurs, or how you can prevent it altogether. Remember how many times in the past you said, "I wish we had done so and so before we got started." Keep a log of what goes wrong and what action you took: this way you'll be better prepared for your next similar project. Delegation. Delegation is the art of good management. Many tasks that you choose to do yourself should be delegated. Look for activities that would be better and more quickly handled by a subordinate so that you're freed-up for the big stuff like getting to know your customers, marketing your new business, controlling quality, and monitoring expenses.Teamwork. Good teamwork comes from good coaching by the boss. Part of good coaching is to be in touch with each of your coworkers: know their strengths and weaknesses, and what makes them tick. Under pressure, you may forget to acknowledge their efforts and inadvertently make them more tense - leading to lost productivity, poor customer service, and absenteeism.Time Management. Time is our ultimate challenge. You can add two hours of productivity to your work day by practicing some simple disciplines. Know your most productive time of day and do the most difficult tasks then. Mine is the morning, which is why I never accept invitations to play racquetball upon rising: I don't want to lose any of that good brain timeLast thing before you stop in the evening, take five minutes to update your To Do list for tomorrow. Select the most important thing you are going to do first and place the paperwork relevant to that in the middle of your cleared desk. This gets you focused in advance and reduces the stress of indecision next morning.Humor Things will go wrong no matter how hard you try. Make up your mind to laugh at yourself when you goof up. Make a choice to extend an encouraging smile to your employees, and find an opportunity exchange some lighthearted banter with your team amidst all the urgency. Victor Borge said, "Humor is the shortest distance between two people." Be grateful. Above all else, remember there are some people less fortunate who don't have a job, let alone their own business; so count your blessings and give thanks. Reach out to help others grow and prosper in all your endeavors: this will pay great dividends - and it may be your greatest relief from stress.
