• Safwan AMM
• 14 November, 2025

The Hidden Pressures Every Business Leader Carries — And How To Rise Above Them

Running a business in Sri Lanka today is both exciting and exhausting. Whether you’re leading a small shop in hometown or steering a growing company, one truth remains the same: leadership is not only about earning profits. It’s about carrying a weight that never really goes away.

In my role as an entrepreneur and brand ambassador, I often meet business owners who quietly struggle behind the scenes. Their issues look different on the surface — staff problems, customer pressure, supply challenges — but the root is the same: leaders carry three major pressures every single day.

Let’s break them down in a simple, relatable way.

1. The Pressure of Running the Business

This is the weight we feel the moment we open our shutters in the morning.

A leader has to think about sales, expenses, staff performance, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth — all at once. Even a small mistake in pricing, purchasing, or planning can echo for months.

Real life example:
A mini-mart owner in Gampaha once told me, “I’m not scared of a big order. I’m scared of the wrong order.” One wrong supplier decision can reduce cash flow for weeks.

Good leaders survive this pressure by focusing on three things:

• Making decisions fast, with available information
• Tracking numbers daily instead of guessing
• Building stamina — because leadership is a long race, not a sprint

2. The Pressure of Community Expectations

Today, customers expect business owners to be more than just sellers. They expect us to be responsible, ethical, and socially aware.

In Sri Lanka, people trust business leaders more than many institutions. That trust is powerful — but it also creates pressure. One statement, one social media post, even silence, can shape your company’s reputation.

Example:
A bakery owner in Kurunegala once faced backlash because he increased prices during shortages. Even though his costs went up, customers felt betrayed. It took weeks of explaining and transparent pricing to rebuild trust.

Community trust is fragile — but it is also the strongest asset a business can own.

3. The Pressure of Family Responsibilities

Behind every successful business owner, there is a family waiting at home — often with patience running thin.

Late nights, sudden supplier trips, festivals spent at the shop… all these create silent pressure. When family balance cracks, business decisions crack too.

Example:
I know many entrepreneurs who say, “I built a business for my family — but I hardly see them.” That emotional strain affects mood, judgment, and long-term planning.

Strong leaders don’t ignore family. They schedule it like an important meeting — because it is.

The Foundation That Supports All Three: Your Health

Most business owners try to look strong. But leadership without health is like running a store with no electricity — everything works, but nothing works well.

Your clarity, confidence, decision-making power, and patience all come from your physical and mental energy.

Simple habits for busy Sri Lankan entrepreneurs:

• 20-minute daily walk
• Drinking water instead of three extra milk teas
• Short breaks between customer rush
• Proper sleep at least four days a week
• A weekly “no business talk” hour with family

Strong leadership starts with strong wellbeing.

Final Thought

Every business owner — from a small grocery to a CEO of a big brand — carries these three pressures. But the leaders who rise above are the ones who invest in clarity, community trust, family balance, and personal health.

Because at the end of the day, business is not only about growing revenue.
It’s about growing the person who runs the business.