
As leaders, we often focus on creating safe and healthy work environments for our team. We want our employees to feel valued, respected, and supported. We invest time and resources into training, communication, and employee engagement, all with the goal of building a workplace culture that promotes psychological safety and wellbeing.
But what about those of us who are self-employed? Have we taken the time to assess our own job design, hazards, and practices? Have we considered the psychosocial risks that we may be exposed to as a result of our work? If we haven’t, how can we lead others through this if we have not let ourselves?
As someone who has worked with many self-employed professionals over the years, I can tell you that the psychological hazards of running your own business are very real. In fact, they can be just as challenging, if not more so, than those faced by employees in traditional workplaces.
So, what can self-employed leaders do to assess and address their own psychosocial risks? Here are three things to consider:
In conclusion, while we often focus on creating healthy work environments for our team, it’s equally important to assess and address our own psychosocial risks as self-employed leaders. By reflecting on our work-life balance, identifying sources of stress, and connecting with others, we can build a healthier, more sustainable approach to running our businesses. Only then can we lead others by example and create a culture of psychological safety and wellbeing for our team.