Great Lakes Wire

Running a business often comes at the expense of personal well-being, a common theme among many leaders. Angela Morrill, PCC, emphasizes that it doesn't have to be this way. "We can have our business, and our health too," she states.

Business ownership involves balancing daily operations with long-term investments, mentoring employees, ensuring payroll is met, catering to customers, and managing vendor relations. Additionally, business owners must satisfy board members, adhere to regulations, stay updated on market trends, and address inevitable issues. Each responsibility demands time and energy.

Morrill notes that leaders frequently neglect their well-being due to these demands. This includes deprioritizing sleep, physical activity, healthy meals, and relationships outside of work. "Our passion and dedication to our businesses has us deprioritizing and neglecting one or more of the following: sleep, physical activity, healthy meals or the nurturing of healthy relationships outside of work," she says.

Neglecting personal well-being can lead to burnout, failed relationships, declining health, weight gain, forgetfulness, headaches, depression, cardiovascular disorders or cancer. Morrill asserts that addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining optimal performance in business.

Bruce D. Schneider from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) identifies six key influencers affecting performance: spiritual alignment with core values; mental clarity by avoiding distractions; emotional regulation through self-awareness; physical health via exercise and nutrition; social support through communication and delegation; and an environment conducive to productivity.

These influencers are interconnected. For example, poor ergonomics (environmental) can cause neck strain (physical), which distracts you (mental) and causes frustration (emotional). Conversely, boosting one influencer may positively impact another.

Adopting a holistic approach to well-being can transform both business and personal life. Sustainable habits like mindfulness practice for mental clarity or regular exercise for physical health are essential.

Morrill suggests practical steps for implementation: setting priorities by identifying areas needing immediate attention; seeking support from coaches or professionals; creating routines including exercise and mental breaks; and regularly reflecting on progress to make necessary adjustments.

By optimizing these areas, business owners can enhance their performance as well as that of their teams. This contributes not only to personal well-being but also to the overall success of the business.

"By addressing and optimizing these areas," Morrill concludes, "business owners can enhance their own performance and that of their teams."

###