It's Lonely...at the Top, in the Middle, and at the Bottom

We’ve all been lonely at one time or another. At the top, we find that we may be in a silo, responsible for decisions and success, but without an established network of peers with whom to chat. We have highly successful teams, but sometimes our position precludes us from socializing and interacting with our team members on another level. We seek peers, sometimes in different industries, with whom we can connect, including focused, high-integrity business leaders, C-Suite professionals, and CEOs. Everyone is counting on you, at the top; mistakes are not in your playbook, so you need peers with whom to speak.

It’s also lonely in the Middle because you are working in the new normal, and things are either changing rapidly or so disrupted that you would welcome a directive and change.

Your team needs you; they are your extended family. Your biological family also needs you, and chances are that you have either not been able to give them the attention they deserve and need, or you have spent so much time at home teleworking that you need a break…even a short one.

At the Bottom, it is lonely simply because we do not always realize how important we are to the bottom line, to business goals, to productivity, and to outcomes. The new directives to remain in place have challenged us as much as our peers, and we are lonely. Employees who feel lonely at work not only feel disconnected from those around them, but also from the organization they work for.

Try these 3 tips for losing loneliness:

•  Make relationships a priority, even at a distance through volunteerism, online activities and more
• Practice self-care, including downtime, relaxation, exercise, and sleep
• Become socially creative and learn new ways to work and connect with others like FaceTime, texting, email, letter writing, and the phone.

We are committed to social and physical distancing, yet large numbers of people are convening in public places as if the pandemic either did not exist or is over. Those of us in the public health space know that this is a dangerous mistake. We need to follow guidelines and do our part to ensure the health and safety of ourselves and of others. Since lockdowns and stay-at-home orders were instated, the number of those who consider themselves “lonely” has increased.

Will we become even more lonely? Remember that there is a difference between being alone and loneliness. Loneliness is a sense of isolation; it’s an inner experience and is difficult to cure. Remember too that you can be in a room full of people and still feel alone.  

Covid-19 has transformed our lives and it has also made it okay to talk about loneliness. Within this new loneliness, there is a sense of community and safety in realizing that we are not alone!  It does not matter if we are at the top, in the middle, or at the bottom. We have something in common, and we can cultivate gratitude, stay connected, and carry on.

#loneliness #alone #lonely #csuite #ceo #covid19 #pandemic #senseofcommunity #3tips

About Sharon

"Life Balance…it is what I do and who I am," and it's within your reach!

Stress & Crisis Management Expert. Service Excellence through WOWTcomes? Virtual & Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Coach. CSP.

Through Consulting, Coaching, and Speaking, I work with high-stress industries like healthcare, hospitality, and human capital to...

? Enhance retention

? Empower staff, and

? Enrich the workplace

What’s in it for you? The ability to achieve an amazing outcome – a WOWTcome?.