|
Preventing startup burnout
|
 |
May 2, 2000: 11:03 a.m. ET
Strategies to reduce stress at Web startups and other new ventures
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Dear Jane: We are starting a Web site and everyone is exhausted from working seven days a week. I'm afraid we are going to lose key people before we get going. What should I do?
Managing a startup business is very stressful, no matter what kind of business you are running. Why not organize a one-day staff retreat to help employees relax and feel more like a team? Find a great place to meet. Rent a hotel suite, a private room in a restaurant or the recreation center at a local park. Hire a temporary worker to answer your phones and let your clients know that you are all taking a day off for a retreat.
Start by sharing your vision for the company and describe what you are trying to achieve. Next, ask everyone to write down their job description and duties. You may be surprised to find big differences between what you hired people to do and what they are actually doing every day.
Outline your marketing strategy and ask for suggestions. Everyone, no matter what they were hired to do, should be encouraged to participate in this major brainstorming session.
By the end of the day, try to establish individual, team and company-wide goals. Make sure you put dates and deadlines to make sure people are serious about meeting their goals.
If people are discouraged and want to quit, let them. Not everyone is cut out to work for an entrepreneurial venture. Just start recruiting new talent before you need it. You can also hire great temporary workers through agencies such as etalentagency.com, aquent.com and guru.com.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
