Why Leaders Feel Lonely
Who’s the loneliest person at your company? You might be surprised that it’s probably your CEO. Another group of really lonely people are the exec team. Leaders often experience isolation at greater levels than most employees. It isn’t really that surprising given the power imbalances that come with their role, having few peers, tons of scrutiny, lots of pressure and information they need to keep confidential. Still, it’s not something we talk about enough.
When I interviewed tech execs feeling isolated and lonely was one of the most common themes. Nearly every exec admitted to loneliness or isolation. It wasn’t even a complaint; more of acknowledging reality. Many said the reason they responded to my interview request was the chance to talk with someone else about the challenges they face. Most had few others to talk about making decision under imperfect conditions, balancing all the roles they serve and the strains of life as a leader.
Have you ever been in the middle of a crowd and felt completely lonely? This is what it can feel like as a leader. There are all these people around you; it seems like there are plenty of opportunities to connect. Despite this it can feel for leaders like there are barriers to connecting at a deep level: power differences, being afraid to reveal too much personal, the expectations we have for leaders, holding confidential information that…
