Article written by Graham Fitzpatrick, Business Advisor, Western Sydney Business Centre.
I never seen so many businesses owners and their teams look so fatigued right now. Everywhere you go, people look tired. It is no surprise that the Bushfires, Covid 19, Lockdowns, and the Floods have had a huge impact on the morale of teams, managers and business owners. There are so many people saying they feel run down and mentally exhausted, with 62% of business owners reporting that they have worked longer hours than ever before. Wouldn’t it be good if we could all down tools and have some fun?
While you can’t just stop work, shut down and have a break, you can look at putting some fun back into business. Happiness in the workplace raises business productivity by 31%. Highly engaged businesses have seen a 41 percent reduction in absenteeism and achieve 59% less employee turnover.
So here are some things you can do to get back to business. Volunteering is extremely rewarding and benefits so many others. You could support a local community group, association, or charity. This gives those that participate a sense of doing something good for others and helps companies achieve their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives.
Or look for team building activities that help improve morale, build confidence, and helps get your teams working as a group again. Escape rooms, puzzles, scavenger hunts, trivia competitions are just some of the engaging things teams can do. Paint Ball, Bowling and Mini Golf are always a hit. Or book a visit to a local coffee roaster, micro-brewery, art studio or gallery, as a great way to take time out and re-connect.
As business owners you should also look at improving your fitness or look for activities that manage stress. 5 minutes of exercise can be just as beneficial as longer routines. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.
If your mind and body is not right, then how can you lead your team and manage a healthy and functional business?