"It's lonely at the top", so the saying goes.
Which makes it all the more surprising that leaders rarely discuss the feelings of loneliness that can come as you rise.
It's paradoxical. You're surrounded by colleagues. You lead a team who look up to you and follow you. And at the same time, it can feel distinctly lonely to be the person standing out in front, making the big decisions.
Leadership loneliness isn't only a problem at the top rungs of business. It can strike any time you're elevated from being "one of the pack" to being in a position of authority.
It can feel like the spotlight is directly on you.
Doubly so if you're a "pioneer" in your field – the first or only person of your gender, race, or other marginalized identity.
And there aren't many people to whom you can turn. Your former peers? They can't relate. Your current leaders? They might conclude you aren't up to the job.
There's so much stigma that many leaders end up trying to put on a courageous front.
But they're secretly struggling with feeling alone, exposed, and the weight of having authority.
In this episode, we pull back the curtain on leadership loneliness, and strategies you can employ to navigate this often overlooked aspect of leadership.
What You'll Learn:
Causes of leadership loneliness, and the inappropriate workplace coping strategy that some people use
How leadership loneliness impacts your ability to problem-solve, and can end up driving great leaders out of jobs they once aspired to
Can you show vulnerability without being fully transparent?
4 strategies you can use to mitigate leadership loneliness, so you can feel confident and supported
To learn more, visit The Mental Offload.
