Lonely HR Leaders

Leadership can be a lonely place. However, senior HR leaders face a unique form of loneliness in their roles.

It can be lonely being in a leadership role. Why is this? Well, as we reach more senior levels in an organisation we have fewer colleagues and it can feel like there is even more pressure to perform without showing ‘weakness’.? This can feel isolating.

I’m working with an number of clients at the moment who are women leaders in ‘a man’s world’, in that their industries are still male dominated, top to bottom.?? This can be an even more lonely place to be.

One particular group of clients I specialise in is women HR leaders, and I hear from so many of them that they feel quite alone in their role.

?As a senior leader in HR you must navigate the often conflicting interests of various stakeholders - frontline employees, managers, executives, and your own team members. Simultaneously, you bear responsibility for solving complex organisational issues, cultural transformations and volatile personnel situations.

As a senior leadership team member, you are a trusted peer and coach to many of your senior colleagues.? The burden can be heavy. It can feel isolating.? Who do you go to get the support you give to others?

?This isolation can breed frustration and hinder performance. Without adequate support or space to objectively analyse challenges, we can struggle to think strategically about the issues before you. You may become trapped in a lonely cycle of putting out fires, while receiving little empathy for the burdens you shoulder.

?I know this only too well as a former HR director myself. At that period in my career my daughter was young and I was working for a global company. The role was challenging, and the psychological weight was immense on occasion.? Even with a great team supporting me, there were tough times and I often felt lonely. Add to that the juggle of parenthood and the mental load it sometimes felt completely overwhelming.

Since I set up my coaching business 11 years ago, I've found that female HR professionals have gravitated towards me, often seeking career development guidance but also simply looking for a compassionate space to work through the unique pressures and loneliness their roles entail.

With hindsight I wish I’d recognised my own needs when I was feeling lonely and overwhelmed, it would have made for a happier life!?

If this article resonates with you here some ways you can help yourself.

1. Build a support network:

- Connect with other HR peers, both within your organisation and externally

- Us f e professional associations like CIPD, SHRM or local HR networking groups

- Find an HR coach or mentor who can empathise with your challenges

2. Make regular time for thinking, reflecting and planning:

- Take time to reflect on what you need to do your role well

- Explore how to get those needs met

- Communicate your needs

3. Look after yourself:

- Make time for exercise, relaxation, or other stress-relieving hobbies

- Set boundaries to avoid overworking and burnout

- Nurture relationships with friends/family outside of work

The loneliness of HR stems from shouldering weighty responsibilities while receiving little moral support. But being proactive about support systems, self-care and communication goes a long way to relieve this.

If you or the women in your team could benefit from guidance on steering clear of HR's lonely cycle of overwhelm, please get in touch.

You don't have to go it alone anymore.

Book in a call if you’d like to have a no obligation conversation about working together.

https://www.alto.uk.com/contact/

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