Burnout:
SMB owners are
also at risk!

Burnout among SMB owners is a topic that few people talk about. Yet, it is a reality that affects a large number of entrepreneurs. It’s hard to obtain figures on the subject, since there are very few studies and it is even somewhat taboo.

In order to break the silence on this subject, in the last few years L’observatoire AMAROK has published various studies that aim to raise public awareness about the importance of the health of SMB managers. We drew on the work of this organization to draft this article and encourage our readers to learn more about this little known phenomenon.

Stress: Part of the job

For SMB owners, their business represents a major financial and professional commitment. For this reason, they tend to invest a great deal of energy in the success of their entrepreneurial project and multiply the sources of stress at work.

For example, SMB owners often have many roles in the business, work far more than 40 hours per week, have increased responsibilities, take little or no vacation, etc. Entrepreneurs are also exposed to sources of stress related specifically to running the business, such as a reduction in commercial activity, cash flow problems and pressure from the competition.

Stress does not inevitably lead to burnout, but people who experience too much stress for too long are especially at risk. That’s why it’s particularly important for entrepreneurs to find a good work/life balance in the long run.

Too often, SMB managers have trouble admitting that they are exhausted. You often hear excuses like: “I don’t have time to get sick. I’ll get sick when I’m on vacation.” You simply have to remind yourself that burnout is a biological reality. Entrepreneurs may be go-getters, but they have not always succeeded in escaping biology (except Elon Musk, who clearly defies the laws of nature).

How to recognize burnout

Health experts do not always agree on the definition of burnout. However, certain symptoms are often evoked. Here are just a few:

• Fatigue: The people affected feel exhausted, both emotionally and physically. They don’t have any energy and getting through each day requires a strong effort.
• Detachment: People who are burnt out tend to become detached from their work and generally experience a loss of motivation. They often develop a negative perception of their work and their co-workers. They are no longer satisfied with what they accomplish and often feel like a failure.
• Behavioural changes: There is a strong risk that the symptoms of burnout have repercussions on the individual’s behaviour. They may tend to procrastinate, isolate themselves and miss work. Someone who was once creative will no longer share their ideas like before.

These symptoms generally don’t arise suddenly. They tend to creep up over time and become an increasingly heavy burden. Therefore, it’s important to act before they become too serious.

For SMB managers, it’s not just a question of their health, but the survival of their business as well. As stated by Olivier Torres, president of the Observatoire Amarok and management professor: “The proper functioning of the small business often hangs by a thread, with that thread being the health of its manager.”

The unique situation of SMB owners

What options are available for an SMB owner who feels burnout approaching, but cannot stop working without jeopardizing the sustainability of their entrepreneurial project?

There is no “one size fits all” solution, since it is necessarily a very complex problem. Burnout is the result of an accumulation of stress from a variety of sources and each of these sources affects each individual differently. You must therefore identify which sources of stress constitute the greatest obstacles and take steps to reduce their impact.

To facilitate this process, you may want to resort to a coach or a mentor, who will help you see the situation from a different point of view and offer reliable advice to improve it. It may be appropriate to find other entrepreneurs to talk to, either by joining a community of entrepreneurs or by participating in networking activities.