Loneliness of Leadership?

Ever heard the phrase “It’s lonely at the top”?

In Chapter 1 of his book Leadership Gold, John Maxwell suggests that if that’s true, then you’re not doing something right. I tend to agree with him.

But what is it about leadership that makes that such a common phrase?

For one thing, when you become responsible for leading other people, there are far fewer people who understand the challenges you face. And those who do, it’s easy to view as competitors who want your resources or inspectors who are evaluating your performance.

If you came from an engineering background like I did, the whole idea might actually surprise you. You’re used to finding sticky problems and working alone until you find a solution. You’re not used to feeling like you need someone else.

But success in leadership is almost never a solo performance. And the larger your sphere of influence grows, the more true that becomes.

The longer you hold on to the identity of the technical expert who can figure things out on your own, the more loneliness you will find in leadership positions. But if you can instead build strong relationships with your new peers – and with your boss’s peers – you’ll not only increase your chances of success in your current role, but you’ll also protect yourself against the isolation and loneliness many people feel when they rise even higher in the ranks of leadership.

And if you’d like a thinking partner to explore the opportunities you have to build relationships in your organization, let’s talk. Visit stevedwire.com/talk to start the conversation.