Cleveland News

It is indeed lonely at the top. Leadership is prestigious in itself. One is recognized and respected by many. However, leadership may also come with loneliness. Leaders may at times feel isolated from the rest of the team. This is referred to as the lonely leader problem.

Loneliness at the top may affect a leader. It may hinder his or her performance. This particularly affects new leaders who take up formal positions. They may be very frustrated and lonely in the management of company affairs.

The lonely leader problem can result from one breaking from peers. When you are promoted, you may find yourself leaving your peers behind. You become their boss. It becomes difficult for you to be able to fit into the gang as it were before.

Leaders also become lonely because they are not aware of the motives that people may want from them. Having a cup of tea with a friend may end up being because he or she wanted a favor from you. You start doubting whether friendships still exist or its just people taking advantage of your position. You end up questioning everyone’s motive thereby pushing yourself away and becoming lonely.

Being caught in between the needs of your team and the demands of top management can lead to the lonely leader problem. Here, you have to cater to the team’s needs while still meet the demands of your superiors. Pressure from both these sides can leave you feeling as though you are alone in the world.

Leadership comes with making hard decisions. It requires you to make objective decisions that are geared towards the mission and vision of the organization. Some of these decisions may be unpopular. Saying no to people may leave you feeling very isolated and lonely.

The lonely leader problem can be conquered by making new friends on purpose. Find a new peer group for you to make friends. Find people at the same level as you who you can be friends with. Interact with leaders facing the same hurdle as you.

Hosting an event with your peers can help deal with loneliness. It can build cohesion and let you have some fun. Doing such things together with people within the office can help deepen bonds of trust. This is critical in doing away with loneliness.

As a leader, you need to be confidential. Once you break the trust of your friend by sharing personal issues with others, you definitely may end up with the lonely leader problem again. Once you gain once’s trust, respect their issues. Do not discuss those issues with your management whatsoever. You owe your friends and teammates that.

The lonely leader problem is faced by many executives. One feels like he or she is alone and has no friends at the workplace. Relationships with peers get bruised at time goes. Interactions with the workplace can help deal with loneliness. Talking to leaders within the same problem as you can help you form new friendships. Conquering loneliness is key to ensure that you are productive in the workplace.