Entrepreneur, don't forget to take care of yourself!

Entrepreneurs increasingly pay attention to the vitality of their team, but forget about their own health. That's why Zorg van de Zaak organizes meetings to help SMEs do just that. CEO Bas Tomassen (Zorg van de Zaak): "Those who also pay attention to their own vitality keep it up longer."

These are tough times for entrepreneurs, observes board chairman Bas Tomassen of corporate health network Zorg van de Zaak. "The problems are piling up: first the corona crisis and staff shortages, now the rising energy costs. This is stressful. Entrepreneurs are normally cheerful and resourceful, but at some point they also become exhausted."

On Entrepreneur's Day (Nov. 18, 2022), he therefore calls special attention to working vitally as an executive. "A healthy and vital team is essential to the functioning of organizations. We must work to get Everyone Thriving at Work , including the boss."

Prevent problems, focus on vitality

Investing in vitality prevents problems, Tomassen explains. "Often organizations spend most of their time and money patching up people who drop out," he says. "That's a shame, because we see that people in such organizations often drop out again with similar complaints. It's ultimately cheaper to make your whole team more resilient to prevent dropouts."

Moreover, research by PwC shows that investing in vitality leads to greater productivity and engagement in your organization. That study shows that employers save up to 12.6% of their turnover this way.

At home and at work

Vitality is about both physical and mental health. It's about making sure your employees are physically fit, don't get overworked and enjoy going to work. In addition, you give them support to develop so that they become better at their tasks and can respond to developments. In this way, they remain sustainably employable.

Tomassen explains that vitality is also about the ability to deal with social, physical or emotional challenges. "That's why it's important to invest in people's competencies and make sure they don't get overloaded. Also make sure employees recharge in their free time. Those who can rest and enjoy themselves at home are more productive and resilient at work."

What makes it tough?

Tomassen is also working on the resilience of his own people. "That started with an analysis: what makes the work hard and what can we do about it?" he says. "Many of our employees are in direct contact with clients. They regularly have difficult conversations, sometimes this involves verbal aggression. That's why we train employees in having difficult conversations. They develop and become stronger."

Furthermore, employees can easily get help with work or personal concerns. "If someone has problems at home or at work, it is very important to talk about them," Tomassen says. "But in practice we find that people find it difficult to discuss problems with their manager. That's why employees can schedule their own appointments to talk online with a psychologist. Sometimes an hour of talking already helps to get a grip on the situation."

Sparring as entrepreneurs among themselves

It is also important for business owners to talk about their concerns. "They have a lot of challenges," says the executive chairman of Zorg van de Zaak. "They see businesses falling over due to high energy and personnel costs and are worried about the future of their own business."

That's why Zorg van de Zaak is bringing entrepreneurs together. Next time, the company health network organizes regional group meetings with about 10 to 15 participants. These entrepreneurs come together for inspiration, to get their hearts racing and to spar. See the dates and times at the bottom of this article.

Attention to one's own vitality

"Sometimes just voicing your concerns helps," Tomassen says. "What are you running into? How do you get a grip on the situation? Moreover, fellow entrepreneurs can help you with their own tips and experiences."

He further advises entrepreneurs to pay attention to their own vitality. "If you make sure you are physically and mentally fit, you will last longer," says Tomassen. "For myself, regularity is very important. I start with a run in the morning and go to bed on time."

That doesn't always work out, he admits. "If it slips in one week, it's not a big deal. As long as you spot it and adjust it," Tomassen says. "Conversations with a sparring partner can help you do that. In busy or stressful periods, entrepreneurs tend to work their asses off. But it is precisely then that it is important to take good care of yourself, relax and also keep things a little cozy at home. Then you'll last longer."