As a broker, being responsible for managing your own time and output might be very attractive, but the other side to this coin is that it can be hard to maintain any semblance of work-life balance.
Whether you’re a broker, small-business owner, or the chief executive of a large corporation, running your own show can be exciting. It does however mean that the buck stops with you. When you agree to a deadline with a client, there’s no buffer between you and their ire if you let them down; not to mention the brand damage and detriment to potential future earnings.
It’s very easy to get trapped into thinking that the only way to meet your clients’ needs is to work harder and longer hours. And while this approach might be appropriate for machines, for human beings it’s a slippery slope to burnout.
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To be successful as a broker in the long run, you need to invest in your most important asset: yourself! Like the stewards say ahead of a flight, you need to put your own oxygen mask on before you can help anyone else. If you fail to look after yourself, and you then can’t look after your business, you’re in a far trickier situation than if you’d taken some time for self-care in the first place.
Support partners
If your business isn’t quite at the point where you can afford regular staff, it’s important that you have other broking professionals that you can refer work to. A client will be far more amenable to hearing that you’re currently booked out, but have someone else you can recommend, than hearing that you’ve failed to deliver because you took on more than you could handle.
If you feel like your business has reached the point where you need regular support, you could consider either contracting some of the work out, or hiring people on a casual or permanent basis. Once you’ve decided what’s right for you and your clients, think about the best way to divvy up the work, allowing yourself to let some tasks go, and to take time back from the business for yourself.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint
If you fail to think about how you’ll ramp up your business as it gets busier, you’ll suddenly find yourself in an untenable situation. You’ll be exhausted, you won’t be performing at your best, and you may just find you’ve lost all enthusiasm for the work.
Being a leader of any type of business demands resilience, perseverance, and hard work. The only way to play the long game is to view your energy and time as a commodity and to spend it wisely. Using up all of your enthusiasm in the early days is likely to lead to burnout.
You’re burnt out, what now?
Experiencing burnout can be like hitting a wall — suddenly you feel like you just can’t move forward. Energy levels may be depleted, and mood may be low. If you’re feeling like you’ve reached this point or are close to it, you may wish to seek help from a professional who is skilled in managing burnout.
Establishing a relationship with a mentor is another way to stave off or help manage the effects of burnout. A mentor might be someone within your industry or it could be a professional from a completely different type of role. Ultimately, it’s someone you can learn from and build rapport with.
Ideally you want to connect with people (be it a counsellor and/or mentor) who can share their experiences and ideas about the challenges and rewards of being a leader. People you relate to who can help you with maintaining work/life balance.
If you are suffering from any of the issues listed in this piece — or you’re worried about someone else — and feel that professional support is needed, contact your local doctor or one of the 24/7 crisis agencies below:
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
If you are concerned for your immediate safety or the safety of others, call Triple Zero (000).
