The solitude of leadership

Before I got into company leadership I loved being on the team, the relationships and comradery of having a group of people that you could laugh with, talk about frustrations, hang out with after work etc… One day you are in charge and realize that your group has gotten very small.

This phenomenon is normal, and a requirement of the job. It is important to understand that when you are responsible for a group of people you must be impartial, be able to make difficult and unpopular decisions sometimes, you must treat everyone in a balanced and equitable way. You must understand that the people you would have been work friends in your past now look to you with expectation.

I miss having those work friends, so I spend more time with peers in my industry, in some cases my former teammates from other jobs, or former employees who worked for me in the past. It is always good to get perspective and guidance from others so your decisions have a spectrum of viewpoints.

You have to accept that sometimes you will be unpopular with some, because it is impossible to give everyone what they want. There is no manager that is loved by all which simply comes with the territory.

Those who choose this path may not know exactly what they are getting into, like me, but those who succeed figure out a way to keep their circle healthy. We all need support and guidance, no matter how big you get in your career.