Are You Feeling Guilty?

16th September 2010

While conducting one of my recent coaching sessions, I came across something which perhaps surprisingly is quite common in business owners – the feeling of guilt if they are not doing something! Now the reason I say this is surprising is that the majority of business owners actually dream of this scenario when they first set out on their venture i.e. making lots of money while others do the work for them. However, when it actually comes down to it they have an overwhelming feeling of guilt, and consequently don’t let go of many of the day to day tasks, which as M.D, are not for them to get involved with.
For those of you reading this who are not business owners, you may come across this in your everyday life. Some people simply can’t let go, and would far rather be seen as the martyr trying desperately to keep up with everything, rather than ask for help. These people find it really hard to sit in the sun doing nothing, or read a book(or simply enjoy themselves) for any length of time without feeling that they should or must be doing something that involves work of some sort.
Part of my role as a coach can be simply to give people permission to step back from the day to day tasks, and concentrate on the bigger picture, which can often involve sitting and thinking. The owner or managing director has a responsibility to his or her team to manage and direct the business, not to interfere in the machinations. Your staff won’t thank you for sweeping the floor, or doing the invoices, but they will if you create a strong profitable business, with a clear sense of direction, and one which is therefore a pleasure to work for.

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One response to “Are You Feeling Guilty?”

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   September 25, 2010 at 8:44 pm

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