Don't go it alone
Every leader needs partners who can pour into them and challenge them
It’s lonely at the top.
Leadership is a lonely endeavor.
I hear those statements and others just like them regularly. Many leaders feel isolated, alone, and like they have no one to turn to and no one to support them.
That doesn’t have to be the case.
You can avoid these feelings of isolation by being intentional about building and cultivating relationships with key partners both inside your organization and outside.
But here’s the thing…
These relationships, just like those in your personal life, aren’t going to develop themselves.
You actually have to work at them.
This means you have to decide to invest in them, make time to connect with others, be honest and upfront with people, and do the work that leads to true connection, friendship, and partnership.
This kind of connection is a gift and a blessing for leaders. It might feel daunting at the start. And you may even go through seasons where you feel less connected than you’d like. But you can get that back simply by being intentional again.
Reach out via text.
Send that handwritten note you’ve been thinking about.
Make a call on your drive to the office or to pick up your kids from school.
Get that email off on Saturday morning before you head to breakfast with the family.
Whatever “connection” looks like for you and those in your sphere, just do it.
When you invest in these relationships, they pay back dividends that are well beyond the cost of building the relationships. The value you’ll get by taking that extra 15 minutes to call and connect with someone is immense.
If you want to stop feeling lonely as a leader, isolated, and like no one understands or supports you, you just need to take the first step today to remedy that.