Leadership Doesn't Have To Be Lonely

I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to share an article I read about leadership. Here are a few highlights:

If you’ve heard the phrase “it’s lonely at the top” once, you’ve heard it a thousand times. Some say Shakespeare invented it when he penned the famous quote from Henry IV, “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." Irrespective of who said it first, many leaders attest to its truth. Leadership can be a difficult, stressful and lonely business.

As a 3X founder and CEO, I’ve certainly experienced my share of isolation. I was surprised by it at first. I thought leaders found joy at the top, not despair. Then I joined a CEO coaching group and discovered I wasn't alone. It turns out that many leaders have similar sentiments, although they don’t like to admit it publicly.

70% of C-suite executives are thinking about leaving to work at a company that offers better mental health support. CEOs are not immune to mental illness. We see evidence of this all around us, as we hear about the struggles of CEOs who caved under pressure.

Fortunately I got myself under control before it was too late. I’m grateful for that, and I’m also grateful for the lessons I learned along the way. Today I share with other leaders how they can avoid the trap of being lonely at the top before it permanently damages their careers, their organisations and the people around them.

What steps can a leader take?

There is power in acceptance.

You didn’t choose leadership because you thought it was going to be an easy climb, right? So instead of being surprised by it, embrace it. Once you accept the challenge of leadership without regret, the only important thing left to do is to meet it with the best you have to give. The problem with resisting is that it contributes to your “woe is me” feelings. It can make you feel like you’re alone in the battle, which you’re not. Accepting can also help you see that each challenge is an opportunity to learn and become a better leader. Leadership is a process, not a destination.

Resist the temptation to build a silo.

Sometimes a leader’s loneliness is self-inflicted. The biggest mistake leaders make when feeling inadequate is to build a silo and hole themselves up in their office. Sure it’s easy to hide behind your computer monitor, but it doesn’t solve your problems and only serves to isolate you from others who can help you problem-solve.

Rather than building a wall around yourself, try being more open and vulnerable. Remember the best antidote to loneliness is to not be alone. Keep your office door open, walk around and get to know your team better. Don’t be afraid to open up. You don’t have to spill all your beans, but when you’re honest with your employees, you may be surprised at how much grace they give. They don’t expect you to be a superhero.

Ditch your superhero complex.

Are great leaders those who have all the answers? Do they need larger-than-life visions and big, audacious egos? On the contrary, leaders too often fool themselves into believing they’re the smartest one in the room. They rarely are, and this is a heavy burden to bear if you think so. It can drive away the very people you need to survive and thrive. You’ll always feel alone if you act alone.

If you’re like most people, you’re good at some things, and not so good at other things. When you freely admit that you’re less competent in some areas, you enable your team to move in and help you become a more relaxed leader. It can build a stronger bond between you and your team and take the constant pressure off your shoulders, helping you feel less lonely.

Want to know more? Head on over to the full article here for more ideas and perspectives. Afterwards, why not drop me an email to share your thoughts at [email protected]; or call me on 0467 749 378.

Thanks,

Robert