Have the courage to make the changes YOU deserve!
Are You Making the Most of Being Your Own Boss?
When you work for yourself, you get to decide what kind of boss you want to be. You can be a harsh taskmaster, constantly pushing yourself to do more. Or you can be the best boss in the world. Which option are you currently choosing?
A little while ago, my husband and I had an epiphany. We’re both self-employed which means we get to decide our own schedules. To a certain extent, we can start and finish work whenever we want. We can take a day off mid-week, enjoy a long lunch, or work a half-day on Friday.
But we weren’t doing any of these things. We were working traditional hours, spending a lot of time at our desks, and saving everything else for the weekend. In other words, we weren’t making the most of being our own boss.
As soon as we realised, we decided to make some changes. Now, I want to encourage you to do the same.
Making the Shift from Traditional Employment
The patterns, habits and routines of traditional employment can be hard to shrug off. After all, they’re instilled in us from an early age. The way school is structured is partly to do with preparing us for the world of work. We get used to arriving and finishing at the same time every day, and taking breaks when we’re told to, not necessarily when we need them.
More generally, our culture isn't a big promoter of rest. We’re encouraged to hustle hard, and do more, not less. ‘Pushing through’ is often seen as a positive thing and prioritising your own wellbeing is rarely the norm.
This is probably why corporate burnout is extremely common. A 2023 survey by Gallup found that 90% of UK workers are not engaged or enthusiastic about their work, highlighting a widespread issue of workplace dissatisfaction. On top of this, 38% of UK employees reported experiencing significant stress every day (source).
Even if you recognise the need to reject this way of working, and you’re brave enough to take the leap into self-employment, doing things differently can be hard. Before you know it, you’ve recreated a traditional workplace at home. Your boundaries might even be worse because you never actually leave the office.
How to Be the Best Boss You’ve Ever Had
If this resonates, here’s what I want you to know: it doesn’t have to be this way. You get to decide how you run your business, and it’s never too late to change your approach and become a better boss. Here are some suggestions to get you started…
- Start defining success on your own terms. This will help you break away from the standard one-size-fits-all approach that’s often built on self-sacrifice and putting your own needs at the bottom of your to-do list. Read Defining Success When You’re Building a Lifestyle Business to learn more.
- Get better at spotting ‘shoulds’ – things you’re doing in your business (or worrying about not doing) because you think you should, not because it’s what’s best for you. For more on this, read How to Shrug Off Shoulds and Run Your Business on Your Own Terms.
- Learn how to rest. It sounds simple, but it’s not a skill that always comes easily, especially if you’re naturally hard working and ambitious. Rest isn't something you have to earn by ticking everything off your to-do list. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is step away and recharge.
- Create a schedule that suits your individual needs rather than one that mirrors the traditional working week. Clocking in 9-5, Monday-Friday isn’t the only option. Think about when you do your best work and when you feel like you need to rest. You can also schedule tasks to accommodate other responsibilities (e.g. the school run) and things you want to do just for fun (hobbies, interests etc.)
- Give yourself a generous holiday allowance! You don’t have to fill out a form and request time off – you can enjoy a long weekend whenever you want. Book that summer sabbatical, close for Christmas, take three weeks of annual leave at once! Yes, the logistics might be tricky and these things require planning, but you don’t need to ask for permission.
- Create your own employee perks. Be the kind of boss who treats their staff to a weekly yoga session or a monthly massage. Send yourself home early on a Friday or plan a ‘team building’ trip to the cinema, just for you. Just because you're a team of one doesn't mean you can't enjoy the perks!
- Practice self-compassion. A good boss doesn’t tear their employees down. They give constructive feedback and treat mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. Try extending the same kindness and understanding to yourself.
I Want You to Thrive
I’m committed to helping people define the life they want, so they can follow their dreams and build a career that matches their vision.
Sometimes, this means taking a step back, questioning the way you've always done things, and giving yourself permission to try something different. That's exactly the sort of thing I enjoy exploring with my coaching clients. Together, we can banish overwhelm, identify your priorities, clarify your goals, and create a plan.
Learn more about 1:1 Business Coaching here or get in touch to discuss your options. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.