By: Kathy Blake

The problem with doing it all and how to prevent burnout

Even though you have found time to read this article, chances are you may feel overworked and exhausted as you read. You're not alone. Most studio owners take on too much, leaving no time for rest, relaxation or even family. It's understandable to want to be in full control of your business--after all, it's your livelihood and something you are endlessly passionate about. The problem starts when you can't back up and take a deep breath, or delegate. If you do everything at your studio, and find it difficult to hand over responsibility to anyone else, then read on. This is for you...it's time to have a business and a life!

It's your business and you want to have full control over everything, from the way the phone is answered to the tuition receipt you give parents. Because of the way a dance studio runs in the calendar year, recital times, sometimes registration time, it's almost impossible to not have times of the year when you feel overworked. It's a bit like retail in December. There's no way to make it balanced and easier. Maybe you think you're doing a fine job--until you stop for a moment and realize you haven't eaten all day. The detrimental effects of overworking yourself are many and dangerous.

• Busier than a One-Armed Paper Hanger: If you're teaching the bulk of classes, managing the finances, managing the office, and managing the parents, you're going to find yourself short of temper, frustrated, and not able to make decisions with as much wisdom as you would have liked. Once you spread the paint thin, you're always going to have a lack of quality in areas that are important to you, and take things personally which always leads to problems when running a business.

• Burning the candle at both ends: Over the long haul, there are going to be times when you will be stressed and doing too much as a studio owner. However, that needs to be short lived and not an ongoing way that you operate your business. People will feel that they're not getting the personal service or attention they deserve. The quality of your teaching will suffer, and ultimately it will not bring in a higher bottom line for you.

• Moms having it all: It's very difficult to be a dance studio owner and have school-aged children, because they are available when you're not. You're teaching after school and in the evening hours. How can you balance work and family when they are at home on such a tough schedule?

• Out of gas: If you're not rested and balanced, you will end up getting sick, or stressed, or both. Then you'll have to close down your studio, or get someone that's not really up to your standards to cover you. So the best thing to do is be aware ahead of time and provide a balanced life for yourself- and a great place to learn to dance for your students.

You probably get anxious at the thought of backing off at work a little bit. There's no need to work 12 hour days or hire three new teachers to cover your classes when you crash and burn. You just need to look after yourself, and be able to sense when it's time to get help in the office or on the dance floor.

• Look in the mirror: It's really important to be your own best critic. Notice when you go to work with a sense of dread or exhaustion before you even start. This could be the first warning sign that something is wrong and you need to get some help. Consider yourself and employee of your own business, not the business itself.

• A little goes a long way: Maybe your part-time teachers will be willing to take on a few extra hours in management. Sometimes a person will come to work for just three or four hours a week. Those three or four hours a week will buy you a whole lot less stress and bring more customer satisfaction.

• Down time: As a studio owner, you need to take a day off when you know that it's not in your best interest to be there. You need to provide for it regularly. You must find a way to block off a day of time. Even if you think you can't afford it, you really can't afford not to. Ask your staff members to hold you accountable to your day off!

• Delegate tasks: Sometimes you can have a little personal time by hiring another teacher, putting an advanced student in a training program, and having them work even a couple of hours in an afternoon. Depending on what your family situation is, if you have a family to raise, then you have to be able to be available for them. Delegating tasks to others is one of the best lessons to learn as a leader --this will free you up to focus on what is truly important. You are better off making less money and being a more successful studio owner.

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