It’s Lonely at the Top for Women Leaders

There is an age-old which goes like this: “it is lonely at the top.” While every leader faces a situation like this, it is even more true for women leaders. Research says that only 5.6% of the CEOs of the Fortune 500 and only 26.5% of executive leaders are women. Among the many workplace challenges for women, being heard is one of the most crucial. However, most women leaders feel that not only are they not heard but often ignored as well. Historically, men have held most leadership roles in organizations. And since there is a difference between how men and women communicate, women’s communication styles often go unrecognized.  

Recently, the Society for Human Resource Management surveyed 1094 HR professionals, 1038 managers, and 1017 individual contributors. Some of its findings include the following:   

• Female managers are more likely to be neglected by critical networks in their organizations than their male counterparts. Nearly 65% of white female managers and 57% of female managers of color feel included in the critical networks. While in comparison, more than 73% of white male managers and 68% of male managers think similarly.  
• Only 56% of female managers of color feel they can discuss their personal life at work. On the other hand, nearly 70% of white female managers, 79% of white male managers, and 72% of male managers of color feel comfortable talking about their work life. 
• When a woman is promoted from an individual contributor to a manager, she is far more likely to believe that there are fewer opportunities for women's career growth than men in her organization.  
• Around 71% of men, compared to 61% of women, feel that their supervisor helps them develop their careers.   
• Female managers involved in caregiving duties have also experienced some pandemic-related career setbacks. While nearly 35% of female managers reported a setback, only 26% of male managers faced similar challenges.  

This is conclusive proof that when it comes to women leaders, it often gets lonely at the top. While loneliness may seem irrelevant compared to the many challenges for women in leadership, it becomes crucial in the long run. Several women in leadership roles often feel lonely despite knowing they are good at their jobs and deserve a promotion. Loneliness in leadership is usually caused due to a lack of trustworthy relationships, job responsibilities, or some bad decisions you have made along the way. However, there are a few principles that one can keep in mind in such situations.  

Your Alone Time Can Be Invested in Personal Improvement 

While loneliness in leadership is common, women can use it in a productive manner. You can use your alone time for learning new skills, personal development, and introspection. Let us look at a few effective things you can do if it's lonely at the top:  

• Analyze your strengths and weaknesses 
• Reevaluate your priorities 
• Invest in your growth  
• Eliminate a bad habit 
• Acquire a new skill 
• Read a new book  
• Pick a hobby   

Read Also: 10 Ways to Identify and Own Your Personal Power 

Your Alone Time Can Be Used for Evaluating Your Relationships  

Women in leadership often become lonely if they cut off their communication channels with others. Women leaders are often so invested in their careers that they never stop building meaningful relationships. They neither pay attention to the people who matter to them nor do they create any support system for themselves. Therefore, it is the ideal time to evaluate your relationships if you find yourself lonely. Building a solid network is essential for any leader. The best way to do that is by being intentional about your relationships. 

While your personal relationships need to be built around your family and friends, your business partners and clients come under the ambit of professional relationships. You must also create a support network for yourselves comprising of your advisors, coaches, and mentors.  

Your Alone Time Can Be Utilized in Supporting Others  

You can also develop empathy during this period. You are not the only person suffering from loneliness. Therefore, try to identify such individuals and reach out to them. You can either e-mail or tweet them or call them on their mobiles or even send ‘thinking of you’ cards. Small gestures like these can make them feel good about themselves and make their day. Hence, try to utilize your alone time to make a difference in others’ lives. 

Your Alone Time Can Be Spent Taking Breaks  

You may also feel alone or emotionally withdrawn, not because you are surrounded by people who do not support or understand you, but because you are mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Therefore, your alone time can be ideal for taking a break from your work. Watch a movie you like or read a book you find interesting. After your break, you may also discover a renewed perspective toward your challenges and a greater amount of energy to tackle them.      

While being alone may seem unfortunate, especially in the digital age, you can efficiently utilize it as your professional career's most productive phase.