Startup CEOs need to avoid or overcome startup CEO overwhelm. Overwhelm can be caused by the need to think about and do so many simultaneous things to nurture and drive a startup to success.
Too many startup CEOs experience overwhelm too often. One cause is that there are too many pieces of information to keep in your head; business plan updates, bills, hires, fires, prospects, customers, product development, manufacturing, etc.
How to overcome startup CEO overwhelm
- Business Processes
Each day document one of your business processes, until they are all written down. Meanwhile, make a list of all of the unwritten processes. Now you have processes that can be delegated. - Rush-crowded periods
- Travel to work before or after rush hours to save time
- Go to restaurants and stores a little early or late to reduce time spent in lines and waiting for services
- Delegate
- Delegate the processes noted above, clerical tasks, any tasks an intern can do and any tasks an employee can perform.
- Read the post on Things to consider when hiring a virtual assistant
- Time usage
- Designate one hour per day (the first hour in your day) to accomplish your most important task of the day.
- Read the post on Schedule Only Half of Your Workweek
- Email and social media
Check email and social media only at the end of the morning and at the end of your day. - Record your tasks and time spent in detail for two days
- After you are through being appalled at the resulting list; tighten up your time usage.
- Using your time well will improve both your productivity and your morale.
- Be calm
- Learn to calmly accept repeated rejection and failures doubt complex decisions and surreal relationships.
- Learn to feel comfortable feeling alone
- Find peers that you can talk with
- When you feel overwhelm
- Think about why your feel overwhelmed. Try to do less as you calm yourself. Seek professional advice.
- Ask yourself; why do I feel busy?
- Think through your priorities
Read the post on Manage Your Priorities As A Startup CEO - Be sure that you are well rested
- At one time the author worked seven days per week for six weeks. I recommend against that. Your mind and body need rest.
- Manage your personal power by getting enough sleep. Many people need eight hours of sleep each night. Ask your Doctor what you need.
- Drains on you
Some people are continual sources of negativity or drains on your time. Avoid or refocus these interactions. - Delegate
- If you cannot learn to delegate; you will never grow your business.
- You do not need to do everything yourself
- Learn to say NO
- Learn to say no to interruptions, meetings, some trips and other things that will not be very productive.
- Read our post on Before Agreeing to a Meeting Ask These Questions
- Deal with Clutter
- I once delegated dealing with startup paperwork to a retired schoolteacher. In five years she only misplaced one valuable document.
- Weed out and organize your stuff.
- Aids to calm yourself
Richard Fried, MD, PhD, a dermatologist and clinical psychologist says that the use of skin lotions is beneficial when stressed - David Barlow, PhD, founder of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University says that you should accept that you are having an anxious moment
- Meditation
Consider meditation and similar practices such as focusing on the present
Conclusion
- “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
- Seek professional advice for your overwhelm
- Relax
- Observe yourself
- Delegate
References
- Inner Game of the Startup CEO: mastering the secret challenges no one talks about
- Five Tips to Manage Overwhelm
- Oprah 12 Questions to Ask Yourself If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Hits: 709