Sometimes it's lonely being a leader
- Claire Platt
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Let's be really honest...
Sometimes it's lonely being a leader.
But how often do you hear leaders admit that they're lonely?
Not often, I guess.
According to the Campaign to End Loneliness: 45% of adults in England feel occasionally, sometimes or often lonely. This equates to over twenty-five million people.
Researchers argue loneliness will become what obesity currently is: a major public-health problem, reaching epidemic proportions by 2030 unless action is taken (Linehan et al., 2014).
This is particularly the case in leadership. In fact, loneliness is a professional hazard as leaders need to be socially distanced from the people they lead.
In a recent survey carried out by CTO Craft, of the 100 leaders questioned, almost 97% had felt lonely as a leader at one point or another, with 63.5% feeling lonely in their current role ‘sometimes’ and almost 19% feeling that way all of the time.
As university of Houston Research Professor and New York Times best-selling author Brené Brown says,
“A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don’t function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick.”
That's why I created the Devon Women's Leadership Network.
Back in September 2023 I started my own business, mostly working remotely at home. Whilst I worked with leaders online, those sessions were focused on them. I missed the workplace and my work friends.
I felt disconnected, isolated and in need of connection and inspiration.
Maybe you're like me too?
-Maybe you're the CEO, and are unable to share complex or confidential matters with colleagues?
- Maybe you're a senior leader, but don't feel brave enough to share your inner thoughts and feelings with colleagues?
- Maybe you're the only one leading a priority, or running a business?
- Maybe you're in the minority as a woman in your organisation?
- Maybe you work remotely, and don't experience genuine connection with another human being?
- Or maybe you simply don't feel able to share the mental or emotional load - at work, or at home?
If you are looking for connection, and a sense of community, a 'tribe' of women who 'get' you and understand your context, the Devon Women's Leadership Network is for you.
And whilst I started the network for professional connection, stimulation and inspiration...
I have also found support, encouragement and even new friends that are becoming so important to me.
So if you'd like to hit pause on your busy life and have some time for connection, learning and support with other professional women in Devon, why not come along to one of our our events.
You'll be assured of a warm welcome.
Our next events:
Friday 13th February - Ocean View, Plymouth Dome
Monday 2nd March - Cosy Club, Exeter
Tuesday 3rd March - Ocean View, Plymouth Dome
Book here:
Join the LinkedIn group here:
And a big thank you to @Nash & Co Solicitors LLP for sponsoring our events in Plymouth.
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