The solitude of command
The view from the top can be breathtaking, but the air is thin. The silence is deafening.
No one tells you about the weight of decisions that keep you awake at night. Your team looks to you for answers, but who do you look to? This isolation isn't a weakness—it's simply part of the role.
We all face this. Some of us find peers outside our organizations who understand these unique pressures. Others cultivate advisors within the team—not yes-men, but challengers who offer new perspectives.
Opening up, even a little, can ease the mental load. It's not about being invulnerable; it's about being human. And in those moments when the office feels too confining, remember there's a world outside where you're not "the boss," just you.
You're not alone in feeling alone. It's a shared experience, rarely spoken of, but universally felt by those who lead.