The loneliness CEOs experience stems from the burden of leadership and decision-making, rather than a lack of social connection. Especially in times of crisis, when we look to our boards, senior executives, and executives to steady the ship, but we feel they are not doing so. Either the mission has not been accomplished or opinions are divided. A survey of 109 CEOs from major Canadian organizations, complemented by in-depth qualitative interviews with 46 of them, suggests six strategies leaders can adopt to alleviate loneliness. .
It’s lonely at the top. A crowned head is heavy. The higher you go, the lonelier you become. These overused clichés reflect our belief that being a CEO must be a lonely job. We imagine them sitting alone in their top-floor offices, looking back on their quarterly sales figures and looking disappointed. But does this image reflect reality?
