Early check to help stop work pressures following you home

Business owners are being encouraged to identify problems early before workplace pressure begins damaging their home life – or personal difficulties spill into their businesses.

Nambour life, leadership and business coach Rick Paget said he had observed a strong connection between the two areas while working with business owners, particularly men.

Mr Paget, of Equipe Coaching, told a Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catchup themed "Celebrating blokes in business” that people were often able to separate their professional and personal lives while circumstances remained manageable. However, those boundaries could quickly break down when financial, relationship, health or workplace pressures intensified.

“When the pressure’s on, there are behaviours or outflowing’s that can negatively affect our families or our workplace or people we are engaging with from day to day,” he said.

Mr Paget presented a practical “work-home life check” designed to help people assess what he and his wife calls their “life bubbles”.

The five home categories were relationships & family, health & wellbeing, finances & household responsibilities, recreation & hobbies, and personal growth & lifestyle.

The business categories included operations & systems, customers & service delivery, people & leadership, finance & administration, and vision & innovation.

Mr Paget encouraged business owners to consider whether each area was operating well, required personal action or needed outside assistance. “What can I fix myself? What can I personally do? What can’t I fix and who do I need to help me in on that?” he said.

He said people should then identify their next action and give themselves a deadline for completing it. Catching concerns early generally made solutions easier to manage and reduced the likelihood of further hurt, conflict and stress, he said.

“All of us have different things going on in our life. If we can catch them early, I encourage you to do that and reach out for help where it’s appropriate.”

Mr Paget also represents the Everyday Foundation, which provides emergency relief from its Howard Street premises in Nambour.

• For more coaching information contact equipecoaching.com.au

Rick Paget.