Resiliency is a Solution to Small Business Burnout

A burnout can come on fast—sometimes you don't even realize you are burned out until you're slumped over your desk feeling that your situation is futile. Resilience is the ability to recover from or prevent these types of tough situations. Being a business owner is not an easy job, but resiliency can be invaluable to you and your business. It will help you overcome feeling overwhelmed, overworked, annoyed, and underappreciated. It is an important strength to maintain.

Your resilient business. During the recent holiday season, you and your staff were likely working longer hours, trying to fit more tasks into each day to keep up with increased customer traffic. That traffic is great for your business, and turning it into additional traffic year round is even better. So, keep in mind, what customers see and sense in your store will impact their decision to return in the future. Being a resilient business will help you maintain the sales floor and backroom operations, so you are always ready for customers.

Having a resilient team. Keeping your team resilient may seem like a challenging task, especially when you have yourself and your family to think about as well. Small daily efforts can help keep employees feeling positive and motivated. Make sure a positive tone is set at the beginning of each team member's day. Being vocally grateful with please and thank-yous, as well as setting clear expectations for each shift or individual team member, are some simple things you can do. Remind yourself that the example you set will make a difference and that having a resilient team will help you maintain a resilient business.

Being resilient as an owner. Your business is a reflection of you, so having a business that is resilient to market changes, financial constraints, and regulatory challenges starts with you as the owner. Remember your past successes—how did you make them happen? You probably planned ahead, so while it can be challenging, make sure you set some time aside for planning. Remind yourself that you didn’t get to where you are today by giving up, and frustration and desperation are useless unless you channel the energy into being productive. Creativity can be a tough thing to channel when you are stressed, but allow yourself a minute or two to think or ask for advice. Finally, remember to make it fun, and don't forget that resiliency starts with you as the business owner.