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Making Difficult Decisions
You probably have heard the term it’s lonely at the top. The top, in this case, refers to people who are in leadership positions like managers. It is used to reference the fact that managers have to make decisions that people won’t be happy about. For instance, suppose your manager tells your team they have to work in the coming weekend. How popular will that decision be for the team?
It’s unclear where the phrase originated. Some believe it came from the 1972 song by Randy Newman called, “Lonely at the Top.” However, it’s likely to have been coined much earlier than that. Whoever coined the phrase, there is no doubt what it means. When you are in a leadership position, you won’t have the friends you used to have.
While people may not enjoy the decisions you are left to make, they will respect them. Of course, that depends on how you present those decisions. If you are not firm in your handling of decisions, people will read this as being weak. Once that occurs, you will have a difficult time recovering from that perception. Be firm and don’t waiver.
You should get as much information as possible before making decisions. Plenty of leaders will fly off the handle with decisions. They won’t take into account that more information is needed before making the decisions. This causes the wrong decisions to be made. The people who are affected by these decisions will get angry, and you will lose credibility as their leader. Again, once that happens, you will need to work hard to gain their trust back.
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." – John Quincy Adams Click To TweetTaking Responsibility
When you accept a leadership role, accept the responsibility that goes along with it. People aren’t going to like every choice you make. They need to come to terms with that. You can have an open forum with them to discuss decisions that affect them. However, you are the one who has been put in charge of those decisions. Make them with confidence.
You are going to make mistakes with several decisions. When you believe you have all the necessary information, new facts may emerge to throw the original concept out of whack. There isn’t much you can do about it except finding alternative actions and decisions. Your confidence will mean much for your credibility when this occurs. However, when you exude that confidence, your team will give you the respect you deserve.
Employees Support Each Other
Employees have others in the workplace that they can turn to for advice, feedback, and / or companionship. They can pose questions back and forth to each other in order to achieve their end goal. They can comfortably discuss what's going on in their personal lives. Those in leadership, however, have fewer people to turn to when when they need support through tough times.
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson Click To TweetSupport Systems Matter
You don't have to be lonely at the top. Align yourself with only quality people and positive influences, and help to reduce the burden of loneliness.
Consider the following tips to overcome loneliness:
- Collect motivational and inspirational quotes
- Read thought-provoking books about leadership
- Hire a life coach to help combat social voids
- Build a support network of family and friends for outside of work
- Partner with a mentor
Building Bonds with Like Minds
Leaders may find it awkward and even inappropriate to hangout with their employees. Sure, there's nothing wrong with an occasional after work social but at the end of the day, the boss is still the boss, and for that reason leaders should also make time to connect and network with members of their executive staff, management teams, as well as with their board of directors.
“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” – Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State
Forming such bonds can empower leaders to learn together and exchange ideas in a neutral setting that can foster deeper bonds that may not not otherwise occur.
Additional Resources:
Read Article – Dear CEOs: It Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely at the Top
by Fred Crawford
Read Article – This is how to prevent loneliness as a leader
by Ximena Vengoechea
Victoria Parham (VP) is a woman of compassion, vision, faith, and purpose, she believes in meeting people where they are in their lives and offers a no-nonsense approach in her message, training, and coaching style.
Outspoken, wise, direct, thoughtful, and sometimes provocative, her message is always with love and respect. Victoria knows from her own experiences that we all have the power within us to make decisions and choices that can lead to living an authentic life that is enriching, filled with purpose, personal satisfaction, on-going growth, joy, and gratitude.Victoria believes that when we discover who we truly are, only then can we become our most authentic selves.
Outspoken, wise, direct, thoughtful, and sometimes provocative, her message is always with love and respect. Victoria knows from her own experiences that we all have the power within us to make decisions and choices that can lead to living an authentic life that is enriching, filled with purpose, personal satisfaction, on-going growth, joy, and gratitude.Victoria believes that when we discover who we truly are, only then can we become our most authentic selves.
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