Uncomfortably resides the head that wears the crown, and leaders often find themselves fighting loneliness. Loneliness can impede their effectiveness as leaders as well as cause issues within their teams.
New leaders often feel isolated while learning their roles and can feel overwhelmed. There are, however, ways of combatting loneliness associated with leadership.
1. Take a Break
Leaders need to find ways to break out of their routine and feel less isolated while at work, for instance by taking breaks, finding different forms of entertainment or finding ways out of their comfort zones that challenge them and can increase connection and energy levels – such as listening to music that makes them happy while working or dancing around their office. Breaking up monotony of work can improve happiness levels, reduce stress levels and even increase productivity overall for everyone in their company.
Building alliances is another effective strategy to combat loneliness. Leaders should establish meaningful relationships outside of work with those who can help bring laughter or celebrate successes – this can give leaders confidence and empowerment when facing any of the many challenges associated with being an executive leader.
Mentors or coaches can be invaluable allies for leaders. They offer safe space to vent frustrations associated with leadership positions. Mentors or coaches also can support leaders as they navigate the ups and downs of their career, and navigate high-stakes environments typical of leadership positions.
New leaders especially may benefit from having someone there to support and guide them as they settle into their roles. Many first-time frontline leaders experience an overwhelming sense of loneliness upon taking on such roles for the first time; these individuals need someone there to assist with making connections across their company and be their ally as they figure out how best to accomplish this task.
Loneliness can be one of the greatest obstacles leaders face, yet they shouldn’t suffer in silence. By acknowledging and taking proactive measures to address their feelings of loneliness that come with leadership roles, leaders can become happier and more effective leaders in their positions.
If you want to gain more insight into the challenges associated with leadership and how best to cope with them, join our Forbes Coaches Council – an exclusive community of top business and career coaches dedicated to helping leaders be more effective leaders.
2. Create Allies
Leaders frequently operate at the top of their field and in high-stakes situations, which can make them feel isolated. This is particularly true when handling sensitive matters such as CSR or crises; if this feeling of isolation remains unchecked it could lead to stress and burnout that negatively impact both their organization and members.
One way to combat loneliness as a leader is to build connections with like-minded individuals. This can include joining groups that align with your values or joining communities who face similar issues – which is key for creating an optimal work culture and forming connections within both your team and wider community.
For instance, if you support LGBTQ rights it can be important to join a group which actively advocates for them. Doing so can provide an energizing way of connecting with like-minded individuals while keeping motivated.
Additionally, it is critical that individuals and groups lending financial, technical or human resources support those being targeted and oppressed – this can be a great way of giving back and creating long-term positive change within communities – for instance by helping a cultural group gain power within local politics or helping individuals access affordable housing as an example of ways that allies can help.
Leaders should take responsibility for their actions and words. Tokenism – where policies or practices are changed superficially in order to appear more inclusive without actually addressing root causes of inequality – should be avoided, in favor of setting measurable goals that promote more inclusivity both at work and beyond.
Loneliness can be an integral part of leading, yet it should not be ignored. Whether due to impostor syndrome or simply the pressures associated with their position, leaders need to recognize their feelings and find healthy ways of managing them; additionally they should encourage their teams in doing the same.
3. Connect with the Shared Experiences of Others
Leadership can be an isolating experience. From dealing with difficult team member decisions that could affect other team members emotionally to disappointing passionate team members with ideas they couldn’t implement on time, to dealing with constant business demands on your time – all this takes its toll – yet these emotions often remain internalized, leaving no one for you to share your struggles and experiences with in your organization. Frontline leaders in particular can experience intense loneliness when no one within the organization shares these struggles and experiences together.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, sharing our feelings of isolation and loneliness with others may help alleviate them. Studies have demonstrated this is indeed effective. Research also suggests having conversations about it with colleagues can have positive ramifications for any leader experiencing loneliness.
Conversation about leadership challenges – be they with a coach, peer support group, trusted friend or spouse – is essential to staying healthy and balanced in life. For C-suite executives who often find themselves on the move and away from home for long stretches at a time, feeling isolated may lead to feelings of loneliness as they have no one they can turn to about work worries and fears.
Some top executives find their significant other to be the ideal confidante, while others fear burning out their relationship by constantly discussing professional concerns. Some leaders may also feel as if family and friends cannot provide enough emotional support, or don’t have enough time to give adequate assistance.
Beyond verbal communication, shared experiences and common moments can also serve as powerful ways of building connections with others. This may include organic experiences like traveling together through a country or manufactured ones like attending the same class or conference; such moments help foster meaningful bonds that transcend organizational barriers while creating memories for everyone involved.
Study findings revealed that when participants shared experiences that included both time and spatial alignment, their connection ratings increased significantly. This finding provides evidence of how simple interactions can create feelings of connectedness through shared experiences with others.
4. Find Time for Self-Care
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” goes an oft-repeated phrase. Although we no longer wear our crowns physically on our heads like ancient monarchs did, many leaders still experience feelings of isolation, stress and anxiety from leadership roles – factors that include loneliness in leadership.
Feelings of isolation can have devastating repercussions for both personal and professional well-being, including health problems and negatively affecting family and social relationships. Therefore, leaders should devise effective strategies to combat the loneliness associated with leadership.
One effective way of doing so is through self-care. While some may find the concept daunting, self-care encompasses any activity which improves physical or emotional well-being – for example exercise, meditation, sufficient sleep or simply spending quality time with loved ones.
Self-care can be challenging for leaders as it’s easy to feel they don’t deserve or shouldn’t make time for themselves. With that being said, adding regular self-care practices such as meditation into your schedule as you would any other appointment or meeting can make self-care much simpler to incorporate.
Spending time on self-care can also help you be an effective leader. Feeling tired, stressed or lonely can impact your decision-making and interaction with others – that is why it’s crucial to take steps toward maintaining both mental and physical wellness.
One way to combat loneliness in leadership is by finding a support network – this could include coaching, mentorship or simply sharing your struggles and successes with other leaders in your organization. Doing this can provide essential assistance as you face new challenges without feeling isolated and alone.