Are you a founder who is finding it hard to scale your business? Do you feel that you’re hitting a roadblock every single day? Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that you have to do? Do you feel like you’re missing out on the growth trajectory that your business could have taken?
Well, you could very well be the reason why your business is yet to take off with flying colours!
If you are facing a paralysis of sorts by the long list of things that you have to complete and if you are finding it hard to completely delegate works to your team, then you could be suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a condition in which the unreasonable thoughts and beliefs of the individual overwhelms them and leads to a psychological paralysis. In some cases, it could lead to a condition in which the person has unnecessary worries and fears that can feel crippling.
In a country like India where adjusting is the norm, people don’t understand the gravity of the situation or the seriousness of a condition like OCD. Most people assume it is just a normal behavioural problem of an individual. However, OCD is an underlying condition that can’t be cured. The only way to address the condition is through proper therapy, support system and continuous help.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in a founder will have a far reaching impact on the business. While traits like attention to detail, persistence, and high standards can contribute to success, clinical OCD can cause serious disruptions in leadership, team morale, and decision-making. In short, OCD in a founder is a double edged sword. When properly managed the condition can be helpful for the growth of the business. At the same time, when the condition is left unattended, it will lead to certain doom of the business. It will also affect the employees and put them through unnecessary stress and strain.
4 Key Problems Faced by Founders with OCD
While there are many problems faced by the people with OCD, it is the paralysis due to the thought of perfection which impacts the business the most.
1. Paralysis by Plan for Perfection
Founders with OCD will be focused on perfection that they find it hard to finish even simple tasks. Their quest for perfection pushes the timeline of all projects. In fact, in some extreme cases, founders might even find it hard to start their business journey as they are always on the search for a better product or service.
This delays key events like project launches, product rollouts, and has a huge impact on the revenue of the business. At times, the team that works with the founder will be drained off all the creative energies.
The best way to deal with the situation is to have a clear cut project timeline that everyone can accept to. With strict enforcement of the timeline, Founders can find it easier to ship their products. This reduces the chances for unnecessary expenses and efforts on the projects.
2. Micromanagement Becomes the Norm in the Organisation
The number one role of a founder is to hire multiple people and delegate the work to the most appropriate person. This is what empowers the team and also frees the founder to work on other core functions in the business.
A founder with OCD will interfere in every part of a task and will demotivate the team with constant inputs that can be counterproductive. For instance even miniscule things like a social media post design, choice of words in an email, or even naming conventions of the files.
3. Constant Validation & Reassurance Seeking
Founders with OCD could become too reliant on external validation instead of personal satisfaction in performing the work. This leads the business astray as the founder will be driven more by the social recognition than the feeling of accomplishment. This can cause the founder to chase vanity metrics or worse not care about the actual result driving processes.
Such a condition can be countered by standardisation of the process, automation, personal audit processes, etc. Find out more about OCD treatments in Chennai by contacting us today.
4. Founder Burnout & Mental Exhaustion of the Team
A founder with OCD will often work long hours, strive to excel at every task which could either lead to paralysis or in other cases burnouts. Constant exertion will lead to mental exhaustion too. When the founder fixate on the minute details of a project, loses sight of the larger picture, it will become not only tedious for the team to deliver but also impossible for the team to work in a non-judgemental and happy workplace.
The work culture could quickly turn toxic. On the other hand, if the team manages the pressure well, then the founder might also feel stuck. It can even affect the emotional and mental stability of the founder. An easy way to address this is to find proper mental health support, engage in holistic therapies, and better work boundaries.
The Way Ahead with OCD
While OCD is per se a condition that can be ‘cured’, you can still lead a normal life with the help of therapies, support and professional help. At Serene Life Hospital, we help you to deal with OCD and still live a successful and happy life. Call us to get your consultation with the top OCD treatment doctors in Chennai.
When you learn to manage your condition with self-awareness, therapy, and a supportive team, many of your OCD traits can become an asset to your business. You will be able to persevere more than your competition and put your business on an exponential growth trajectory.
