The Invisible Load: How Emotional Labor Shows Up in Entrepreneurship
Running a small business isn’t just about managing budgets or inventories – it also means managing emotions. Many entrepreneurs wear an invisible “emotional” hat every day. They encourage anxious clients, keep a brave face during setbacks, motivate their teams when morale dips, and stay upbeat for family and friends even when they’re under stress. This often-unseen effort is known as emotional labor, and it’s a very real part of entrepreneurship.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what emotional labour is and how it shows up for business owners. We’ll look at some Canadian stats and stories that reveal the emotional strain (the invisible load) entrepreneurs carry – sometimes even more heavily for women and marginalized founders. We’ll also discuss how this emotional work impacts mental health and business performance, and share practical tips to lighten the load – from setting boundaries to building support systems. Remember, you’re not alone in feeling this way, and help is available (including free coaching support right here in Lambton County). Let’s dive in.
What Is Emotional Labour (and Why Is It “Invisible”)?
Emotional labor refers to the work of managing or regulating feelings as part of your job. The term was first coined by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in 1983 to describe how service workers must “induce or suppress feeling in order to sustain the outward countenance that produces the proper state of mind in others”. In simpler terms, it’s the unpaid, often unnoticed effort you put into creating a positive emotional atmosphere – keeping yourself and others feeling “okay”. Unlike physical tasks or sales numbers, this kind of work is hard to see, yet it’s constantly happening in the background.
For example, think of a retail entrepreneur who smiles through an angry customer’s tirade, or a consultant who stays calm and reassuring while a client panics about a project. These are everyday instances of emotional labor. The tricky part is that the outcomes of emotional labor are largely invisible – there’s no immediate spreadsheet or checklist to show for it. But over time, the effects do show up in very real ways. As one workplace expert notes, the ongoing strain of emotional regulation can lead to stress and burnout, even if it’s rarely discussed openly. In short, entrepreneurs often have to “swallow” their own stress or fear to meet the emotional needs of customers, employees, or business partners – and that hidden effort can accumulate into a heavy load.
How Emotional Labour Shows Up in Entrepreneurship
Being a business owner means wearing many hats, and one of those hats is managing emotions – both your own and others’. Here are a few ways emotional labour tends to manifest for entrepreneurs:
Always “On” for Others:
Many entrepreneurs feel they must constantly project optimism and strength. You might be putting your team’s and clients’ needs first, even on days you’re exhausted or anxious yourself. In fact, this is often seen as part of the job description of being a “good leader.” “It is what is expected,” says Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, a Canadian expert in workplace wellness – owners often believe they must sacrifice their own mental well-being to support their staff. During the pandemic, this tendency only intensified, as business owners took on the role of keeping everyone else calm while internally running on fumes.
The Lone Cheerleader:
Especially in small businesses, all eyes are on you as the founder. Entrepreneurs often feel responsible for keeping morale high – celebrating wins with enthusiasm, staying positive in the face of setbacks, and motivating the team toward the vision. This can mean privately pushing down fear or frustration so it doesn’t dampen everyone else’s spirit. As business author Tara McMullin observes, founders sometimes stretch themselves emotionally by trying to be accessible and upbeat 24/7 – replying to every customer message with a smile, going live on social media daily, or never admitting they need a break. Over time, “we overdeliver until we just can’t anymore,” she writes, noting how entrepreneurs often cross their own boundaries and set unrealistic expectations for their emotional availability.
The Weight of Others’ Expectations:
Small business owners frequently juggle multiple roles – not just CEO, but also customer service rep, mentor, therapist, and mediator. For example, you might find yourself comforting a distraught employee one moment and handling a tense client call the next. Founders from underrepresented groups can face added pressures here. Research points out that women and marginalized entrepreneurs are often expected to be “human givers” – always nurturing, accommodating, and smoothing things over for others. They’re held to higher emotional standards (e.g. being extra friendly or patient), which means an extra layer of invisible work. This dynamic can be seen on social media too: “Women are expected to be accessible, open to public criticism, willing to engage in hostile conversations. Men get let off the hook,” McMullin notes. In short, biases can shove more emotional labour onto those who are already underrepresented, making their entrepreneurial journey even heavier.
All this emotional effort often goes unacknowledged, but it is part of daily life for many entrepreneurs. And when it piles up, it can contribute to serious strain, as we’ll see next.
The Toll: Stress, Burnout, and “Invisible” Strain by the Numbers
If you’ve been feeling emotionally drained by your business, you’re far from alone – and the data backs that up. Running a business can take a serious toll on mental health. Recent Canadian studies paint a concerning picture:
A nationwide report by the Canadian Mental Health Association found that 62% of entrepreneurs feel depressed at least once a week. Nearly half of business owners surveyed said mental health issues have interfered with their work ability. Tellingly, only 21% (about one in five) felt satisfied with their mental health on a regular basis– a rate much lower than the general population. This study also noted that female entrepreneurs and those in the early or growth stages of business were even more likely to report mental health challenges. highlighting how vulnerable newer and under-resourced founders can be.
According to a 2022 report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), two-thirds of small business owners were close to burning out earlier that year. About 50% of entrepreneurs said they were struggling with their mental health. This was in the wake of the pandemic, which magnified stress for many. Those numbers illustrate that burnout isn’t a rare or trivial issue – it’s affecting the majority of entrepreneurs to some degree.
In a recent CBC News survey, two-thirds of business owners said they now work longer hours than when they were employees, and 61% said their stress levels are much higher than before they started their business. Think about that: most entrepreneurs are working more and stressing more than they did in a regular job. That extra stress is essentially the interest payment on the “be your own boss” loan – it’s the invisible cost many weren’t expecting to pay.
Behind these statistics are real human stories. For instance, Ottawa-based entrepreneur Erin Blaskie shared how the pressures of business ownership nearly overwhelmed her. After almost a decade of 10+ hour days and never-ending hustle, she woke up one day “to a crushing weight on [her] chest”, with her back and shoulders “on fire”. She tried to carry on as if everything was fine, but her mental and physical health had hit a breaking point. One evening, Blaskie drove to a clinic and told the staff she needed help immediately or “I might not make it through the night.” It was a frightening wake-up call that she had burned out beyond belief. As a single mother entrepreneur, she also realized how few safety nets existed for her: “There is no paid leave, no paid sick days and most clients won’t wait around for you to get your life together,” Blaskie wrote, highlighting the lack of support frameworks for founders in crisis. Her story has a hopeful side – she sought treatment and began speaking openly about founder burnout – but it underlines how heavy the invisible load can become if it’s never lightened.
Entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities often face a double burden: the universal stresses of running a business, plus additional invisible work at home or in the community. For example, Indigenous women entrepreneurs in Canada often juggle immense family and community responsibilities alongside their businesses. A 2020 survey found that 73.2% of Indigenous women aged 25–45 spend more than 60 hours per week on childcare, far more than their male counterparts. Think of what 60+ hours of unpaid caregiving each week means – that’s on top of running the business! And many also take on cultural and community roles that, while rewarding, add to their workload. It’s a unique balancing act requiring strength and adaptability. Despite these challenges, Indigenous women are one of the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs – starting businesses at twice the rate of non-Indigenous Canadian women. Their resilience is inspiring, but it’s clear they carry a heavier invisible load that we must recognize and support.
Why Emotional Labour Matters: Impact on Health and Business
All this emotional labour and stress isn’t just a feel-good topic – it has real impacts on both mental health and business performance. When founders ignore their own emotional well-being for too long, consequences can ripple through every aspect of life and work:
Mental and Physical Health:
Chronic stress from carrying an emotional burden can lead to burnout, which is more than just tiredness. Burnout often manifests as profound exhaustion, anxiety, depression, or even physical illness. Health professionals note that entrepreneurs in “always-on” mode often develop sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, and a sense of cynicism or detachment. In Blaskie’s case, burnout led to severe depression and a personal crisis. Dr. Hanley-Dafoe warns that when business owners continually prioritize everyone else and never “recharge their batteries,” their physical health, emotional health and even relationships will start to suffer. It’s hard to be a great boss or parent when you’re running on empty; eventually, your body and mind will demand a break – sometimes in unpleasant ways.
Cognitive Abilities and Decision-Making:
Emotional exhaustion can cloud an entrepreneur’s mind. Concentration wavers and decisions suffer. You might find it harder to focus, more prone to mistakes, or unable to think creatively when you’re emotionally spent. One expert notes that errors tend to increase when we push ourselves to work in a state of overtime and exhaustion. Essentially, if you’re burning the candle at both ends, you’re likely less effective at your job. This creates a vicious cycle: you work more to compensate, but that further drains you, leading to diminishing returns.
Business Performance and Team Impact:
Emotional labour can affect the business’s bottom line in subtle ways. For instance, engagement and productivity often drop when an owner is burned out – you might be physically present but not really showing up with the passion and clarity you once had. Research on workplace emotional labour shows it can lead to higher absenteeism and turnover (people emotionally check out or quit) and lower overall work engagement. In a small business, if the founder withdraws or loses motivation, the whole company can stagnate. Moreover, if you’re constantly stressed, your team can sense it too, potentially eroding morale. On the flip side, when entrepreneurs take care of their well-being, they actually perform better. “Recovery is part of high performance,” as Dr. Hanley-Dafoe puts it – taking time to reset ultimately makes you a more effective leader.
The key takeaway: Emotional wellness isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s integral to sustainable success. As one burnout specialist writes, “innovative and sustainable businesses are not built on burnout”; they’re built by entrepreneurs who prioritize balance and mental well-being as much as profits. If you want your venture to thrive for the long haul, you need to thrive, too. And that starts with acknowledging the invisible load and taking steps to lighten it.
Lightening the Load: Practical Tips for Entrepreneurs
The good news is that awareness is growing, and there are concrete steps you can take to manage and reduce emotional labour in your entrepreneurial life. Think of it as putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. Here are some practical, actionable tips to help lighten the emotional load:
1. Build Your Support System: Don’t shoulder everything alone – share what you’re feeling with trusted people. Connecting with fellow entrepreneurs or a mentor can remind you that you’re not the only one facing these challenges. Consider joining a local business network or even informal “founder peer group” where people candidly talk about stress and coping strategies. Sometimes just venting to someone who gets it is a huge relief. Professional support counts too: a therapist or counselor can help you work through anxiety and burnout, and a business coach or advisor can help you problem-solve work dilemmas so they feel less overwhelming. (Remember, free coaching resources exist – more on that in a moment!)
2. Set Boundaries (and Stick to Them): One of the biggest burnout busters is learning to set clear work-life boundaries. When you’re your own boss, it’s tempting (or feels necessary) to work around the clock. But no one can be effective 24/7. Try setting specific work hours and honoring them – for instance, no emails after 7pm, or weekends reserved for family. Also practice saying “no” or delegating tasks that stretch you too thin. As Canadian psychotherapist Delia Petrescu notes, protecting your time and energy is essential for maintaining your well-being and passion in the long run. In her words, “your business can’t thrive if you’re running on empty”– so drawing those lines isn’t lazy, it’s responsible. Boundaries might include physical breaks (stepping away from the computer at lunch) and emotional ones (e.g. deciding you won’t tolerate abusive clients, or scheduling difficult conversations only when you’re rested).
3. Prioritize Real Self-Care: Buzzwordy as it sounds, self-care is crucial – and it’s more than the occasional bubble bath. Think of self-care in terms of consistent habits that recharge you mentally and emotionally. This could mean daily walks, journaling, meditation, exercise, reading for pleasure, or simply ensuring you get 7-8 hours of sleep. Pay attention to your body’s signals; if you’re feeling irritable or exhausted, those are signs to pause and rest. In fact, research suggests that adults need 2 to 5 hours of free time each day to feel their best and avoid burnout. That might sound impossible for a busy entrepreneur, but even carving out small windows – like an hour in the evening for yourself – can make a difference. Schedule downtime on your calendar just like you would a meeting. Remember, rest is productive: by giving your mind a break, you’ll return to work clearer and more creative.
4. Share the Load (Delegate and Ask for Help): Part of reducing invisible work is literally making some of it visible and sharing it. Are there tasks draining your emotional energy that someone else could take on? Maybe it’s time to hire a part-time assistant to handle customer service queries, bring on a co-founder or partner who can shoulder some responsibilities, or involve your family in the business in positive ways. Even at home, consider how household duties and childcare can be more equitably shared if you have a partner or support network (many entrepreneurs, especially women, end up doing the lion’s share of chores – that counts toward burnout too). Delegating isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a strategy for sustainability. Focus your energy on the aspects of the business that truly require you, and lighten up on the rest. And if help is offered – say, a friend offering to babysit or a colleague willing to take a task off your plate – practice accepting it rather than reflexively saying “I’m fine.” Every bit of load-sharing helps.
5. Reframe “Productivity” and Celebrate Wins: A lot of emotional labour comes from the internal pressure entrepreneurs put on themselves – the feeling that you should always be doing more. It helps to consciously reframe your mindset. Instead of equating productivity with working non-stop, start equating it with effectiveness. (Remember, running on fumes actually makes you less effective.) Allow yourself breaks without guilt by recognizing they fuel your long-term productivity. It’s also important to acknowledge how far you’ve come. Take time to celebrate even small wins – completed a tough week, landed a new client, or simply made progress on a task? Acknowledge it. Psychologists note that reflecting on past accomplishments can combat the mental habit of always focusing on what’s not done. By appreciating your progress, you build confidence and a more positive mindset, which can lighten the emotional burden. It’s not indulgent to pat yourself on the back – it’s healthy.
Lastly, don’t hesitate to use available resources. You are not alone in this journey, and there are organizations eager to help ease entrepreneurs’ load. For example, We at Community Futures Lambton provide FREE business coaching and advisory services to businesses at all stages. Talking to a business coach can help you work through challenges, organize your thoughts, and relieve some of the mental pressure. Sometimes just knowing you have someone in your corner – a mentor or coach who understands entrepreneurship – can reduce that sense of “I have to carry this all by myself.”
You’re Not Alone – Support Is Here (and You Deserve It)
Above all, remember that emotional labour may be invisible, but you are not. The stress, worry, and emotional juggling you do as an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you’re weak or “not cut out for this” – it means you’re human. Practically every business owner has felt the way you do at some point. As one entrepreneur put it, “Mental health is a huge issue for entrepreneurs”– and acknowledging that is the first step toward change.
The culture of nonstop hustle might tell us to just toughen up and grind harder, but that narrative is changing. It’s okay to admit that the load gets heavy. In fact, it’s more than okay – it’s necessary if we want to build businesses and lives that are healthy and fulfilling. Your well-being matters just as much as your revenue. Taking care of your mental and emotional health isn’t a luxury or an afterthought; it’s part of the foundation of your success.
So give yourself permission to slow down and seek support. Talk to someone you trust about the tough days. Tap into resources like the free coaching through Community Futures Lambton – these exist to help you succeed without sacrificing your sanity. Reach out to organizations like the Canadian Mental Health Association or local entrepreneur groups if you need professional guidance or just a friendly ear.
You’ve got this, and we’ve got you. Your community wants to see you thrive and be well. Remember that seeking help when you need it is a sign of strength, not weakness. At the end of the day, the best investment you can make in your business is an investment in your own well-being. You deserve success, and you deserve to enjoy it in good health and spirits. So take that deep breath, reach out for the help on offer, and lighten your load – one small step at a time. Your future self (and your business) will thank you for it.
As you build your business, don’t forget to build a life. Keep your spark alive by protecting your emotional wellness. There’s a whole community ready to help you carry the load – you just need to ask. You’re doing great, and you’re not alone on this road. Here’s to your success and your well-being! 💛
References
- What Works. “Emotional Labor, Entrepreneurship, and My Breakdown.”
- Smith School of Business (Jan 2021). “The High Cost of Emotional Labor.”
- RBC Royal Bank (Sept 2022). “Business owners are on the verge of burnout: 3 warning signs and what to do about it.”
- Canadian Mental Health Association. “New study finds 62% of business owners feel depressed at least once a week.”
- Business Link (June 2025). “Wellness in Business: A Holistic Perspective on Entrepreneurship.”
- Ottawa Business Journal (Sept 2019). “Op-Ed: Entrepreneurship nearly killed me. Why it’s time for us to do something about founder burnout.”
- Canadian Mental Health Association (Sept 2024). “The Reality of Burnout and Stress for Entrepreneurs.”
- Indigenous – SME (Apr 2025). “Balancing Act: Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs Share Their Secrets”
