A study released earlier this year by research firm GFK found employees with a PhD tend to be more engaged than workers with less than a high school education. Even so, professionals with higher education were more burdened by stresses related to job security, adequate resources, workplace environment and their work-life balance.

“Having more education may mean an employee is more sought after in the job market, however these educated employees are also feeling job stress and pressure,” said Annie Balant, director of employee research at GfK. “It is critical for employers to realize that their success is tied to retaining key staff and the expertise they hold.”

It’s clear: Stress is a natural component of work. But it appears to swell as responsibilities and intellectual involvement mount. Accordingly, it’s important that business owners and entrepreneurs learn how to manage their stress. Such pressures can have an adverse effect on one’s health – not to mention their life outside work and their ability to make rational, informed decisions.

Especially during the startup stage, when the success of the venture is in questions and each decision must be weighed carefully and deliberately, owners and entrepreneurs need to rein in stress levels – not just individually, but collectively.

“When you’re in your own business, there are many things to think about that you didn’t have to worry about before,” Rosalie Moscoe, owner of Toronto-based HealthinHarmony, told BusinessNewsDaily. “Making loan payments, spending your savings, no money coming in and all your money going out.”

According to the source, the best way to get a hold on stress levels is to maintain a healthy and consistent work-life balance. Recognize that you have a life outside of work and that it is usually less stressful than your professional responsibilities. Here are a few ways to balance out your work and your life:

- Set a personal schedule and plan your days out.
- Be clear about top priorities and focus on the ones that are most likely to bring in business.
- Keep an eye on your goals and allow them to evolve according to circumstances.
- Hire according to your needs, and don’t let your ego convince you that you can do everything yourself.
- Keep strong relations with friends, family and coworkers, and don’t sacrifice those relationships for your work.
- Be healthy: Eat properly, take frequent walks, exercise and drink plenty of water.

“Without organization and good management, the compressed time schedules associated with modern business can cause stress and make extraordinary demands on people,” the Small Business Administration reports, according to BusinessNewsDaily. “An effective management structure can reduce stress and channel the productive capacity of employees into business growth and profits.”

While your happiness is paramount to success it’s also required of your employees, if you have any interest in boosting profits and expanding your enterprise.

A recent Gallup survey found a clear link between employee attitudes and an organization’s financial performance, customer loyalty and employee retention. However, especially since the economy tanked, worker satisfaction is in the doldrums, underscoring the need for managers and business owners to adopt initiatives aimed at boosting happiness.

To do this, you need to empathize. Find out what your workers want. In most cases, a sense of belonging is critical. It’s not just about pay and compensation – employees want to feel that they have an important role in the success of the business. Give it to them. This doesn’t mean you have to hand out promotions, but you can consider modifying roles and responsibilities, implementing greater flexibility or introducing a work-from home policy.

“Engaged employees … stay for what they give (they like their work and are able to contribute); Disengaged employees stay for what they get (a secure job in an unfavorable employment market, a desirable salary or bonus, favorable job conditions or career advancement),” American Express OPEN reports, referencing a recent report from consulting firm Blessing White.

Essentially, these concerns come down to workplace culture. You’ll never drive satisfaction and, hence, engagement through policy maneuvers alone. All your management strategies, habits and attitudes must reflect the culture you seek to create. Be that identity and draw it out in your workers. Be tolerant of mistakes. Be friendly. Make jokes. Allow fun to percolate the business.

Of course, none of this can be accomplished without first taking care of your own stress levels. Ultimately, it is your ability to be happy and engaged that will drive similar enthusiam among your employees.