We get it, running a water damage restoration business is a big job and we completely understand if it is making you anxious. Being a small business owner is full of worries of its own, from keeping cash flow healthy to the weight of being responsible for making sure daily operations are running smoothly.
Of course, the industry we work in comes with it’s own set of challenges. Riding the up and downs of business makes many restoration specialists anxious. Others feel overwhelmed with managing employee training and their role as a leader.
Everyone experiences work related stress from time to time, but 40% of Americans regularly deal with anxiety about their jobs, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Experiencing workplace anxiety may be a common experience, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore it or brush it off as part of the job. As the owner of your business, how you react to stressful situations directly impacts the team you lead. Don’t let your anxiety run your organization, instead follow this advice on how react when running your restoration business is making you anxious.
Join a mastermind group for small business owners
Having a safe place to talk through the worries you have about your business is incredibly helpful for managing anxiety. Some people simply need the opportunity to talk to others who get what they are going through to gain a new perspective.
We have found it incredibly beneficial for restoration specialists to take networking to the next level by joining or creating a Mastermind Group with like minded people. These meetings are perfect for troubleshooting, getting advice or simply blowing off some steam when your responsibilities have you overwhelmed.
Address your source of anxiety
We can’t always control our circumstances, but if you can influence your source of anxiety, take care of it right away! It is incredibly common to feel tempted to avoid what is making you anxious, but that only makes matters worse.
Begin by being honest with yourself about what you are worried about, write it down if that helps. Next, write out what needs to happen in order for you to feel more comfortable at work.
Is there conflict in your workplace? Maybe your employees need mandatory training on behavioral expectations or maybe it’s time to say goodbye to someone who doesn’t align themselves with your vision.
Worried about money? Ask a trusted colleague to take a look at your budget, sometimes a fresh set of eyes will find something you’ve missed, a way to cut back until business is booming again.
Stop avoiding the source of your anxiety, a few changes may have the power to make your work enjoyable again.
Lighten your workload by learning to delegate
When you are in charge of running a water damage restoration business, it is easy to fall into the trap of doing everything yourself. Maybe you’re worried something won’t be done correctly if you don’t do it yourself or maybe you’re understaffed or behind on training new employees. Whatever your reason for feeling overwhelmed, delegation is the only way to lighten your workload so you can focus on the things you have to do and find relief from your anxiety.
Identify the employees you can trust the most and hand off any job that doesn’t have to be completed by you. This will give you more time to do what matters most and relieve some of the pressure making you anxious.
Eliminate mental clutter with operational systems
It may be true that a business owner’s job is never done but that doesn’t mean you have to accept feeling constantly overwhelmed by your workload. If you are always worrying about what needs to happen next, you need to implement operational systems into your business model.
Operational systems are documented methods and processes for completing tasks the same way every single time to consistently deliver the desired results. If employee training always feels like a burden, a system makes it possible for you to hand it off to someone else and never worry about it again. This same idea can be applied to any operational tasks, from ordering supplies to schedule social media to invoicing clients.
Ask for help
If changing the way you do business hasn’t given you the relief you need from feeling anxious when you head into work each day, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Workplace anxiety is a common experience, making it fairly simple to find coaches or therapists who specialize in teaching coping skills to professionals with stressful jobs. Don’t let the stigma about getting professional help become a barrier to your wellness, six months from now you’ll be glad you took the step.
Celebrate the progress you have made.
Your anxiety symptoms probably won’t disappear right away.
It takes time to learn knew ways of coping, medication adjustments may be a part of treatment and therapy is a long term commitment. Keep your expectations realistic to avoid getting discouraged and giving up addressing your anxiety.
Most important, perhaps, is making a point to celebrate your progress. Self-improvement is a win, no matter how small. As you see your mood and temperament improve, be sure to take note and congratulate yourself on doing to hard work of managing workplace anxiety.
At More Floods, we are passionate about simplifying success in the water damage restoration industry. We certainly aren’t mental health professionals and we would never assume we can take the place of getting professional help, but we can help alleviate some of your anxiety with our operational systems and marketing solutions. To learn more, click here or call 1-866-667-3356.