The Business Nanny tipsheet on how to cope in business when you are overloaded with work.

1. What to do when you can’t cope
IT’S ALL VERY WELL striving for a can-do attitude, but that
(with not being able to say NO to requests for help, or turn
business away) can get you in too deep.
Christmas is a classic point in case. It’s at the same time every
year, but somehow it always sneaks up on us. And when the
panic starts to set in, we think that just working harder,
or not sleeping for 72 hours will make it all go away. It won’t.
But following this simple process in Whitney Johnson’s recent
Harvard Business Review blog post will.
So, before you drown in emails and lost opportunities, try
sending out an SOS (or Stop, Organise, and Secure).
(1) Stop
When you’re up against it, and panic is setting in, the most
natural thing to do is tell yourself to work harder. Right?
Wrong. It doesn’t matter why you’re overwhelmed (or how it
happened in the first place), don’t make things worse by
acting without thinking. Just STOP, stand still, take a breath
and give yourself time to THINK. As much as anything,
Johnson says you’ll conserve your emotional and physical
reserves and preserve your political capital (or credibility).
(2) Organise
Once you’ve hit the pause button, take a few deep breaths
and calm down, because it’s time to ORGANISE.
Johnson says take time to assess the situation and figure out
what will make you buoyant again. How far are you from the
shore (your deadline)? How deep is the water? And do you
even need swimming lessons, or a lifeguard?
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(wo)man up and ask for help.
Perhaps your HR team can find you
an internal mentor. Business owners could work with an external
coach to plot a new course – or team up with a support service
like ours to plug any skills gaps, or offer a spare pair of hands.
Xmas Checklist before you shut up shop
• Ensure that partners, suppliers and customers know when
you will be away from the office.
• It’s a bit of an obvious one, but check your diary to make sure
there are no meetings scheduled while you’re away.
• If you’re taking extended leave, make sure you have a plan for
delegating tasks that you usually handle.
• Set up an email auto-responder to send automated replies to
anyone contacting your business email. Include the dates you’ll
be away and if you’re a tradesman, include your mobile no. or
maybe even contact details for someone who might be able to
help while you’re away.
• Update your voicemail greeting with the dates you’ll be out
of the office and redirect calls to a team member or call-minding
service while you’re away.
• Finally, empty the fridge before you go. (It’s amazing how
quickly milk can turn into stilton…)
Don’t beat yourself up
The key to staying buoyant is not to see being overwhelmed as
a failing. Being “swamped” is a good thing – it shows you’re
ambitious, for yourself and your business.
Your only “crime” is to have bitten off more than you can chew.
(Besides, if you aren’t in over your head, how can you really
know how tall you are, and how much you can really cope with.)
(3) Secure
But stress is the gift that just keeps on giving if you don’t tackle it.
So make your New Year resolution to secure the support
you need from the BUSINESS NANNY lifeguards…
Once you’ve pinpointed your location, and what will get you
to shore, the final ‘S’ stands for SECURING. Stop floundering,
Wishing you a well-earned break, and here’s
to a happy and successful 2014.
Shell House, 22 Garden Square, Rendlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 2GW
info@businessnanny.co.uk | 01394 42 11 72 | facebook.com/BusinessNanny.co.uk