Lonely at the Top

After the rush of your promotion settles down, you may find you have just entered a very lonely spot. It isn’t that you’re not busy anymore, it means you have been isolated from the comradery of the work force. Whether you have been promoted from within the business, just started your own business, or were hired new to the company, you may find the situation as follows:



1. Employees at your business or company may not trust management.

2. Employees may show respect for anyone in authority.

3. Employees may feel they no longer have things in common with you.

4. Employees may not have confidence in the business decisions of the company.

5. Employees may resent your promotion or position.

6. Employees may think you no longer care about them.

7. You will not be able to share everything you know about company operations.

8. You may have to fire or lay off employees.

9. You may be part of reorganization or takeover.

10. You may have to assign tasks that employees dislike.

11. You will have to administer company policy the same way to everyone.

12. You will be busier than before which will limit you time.

All these, and more, will isolate you to some degree. It isn’t the end of the world. It is simply part of the job. It can be an awakening to realize the employees you called friends may not be the same. Or, the realization you will never make close relationships with the people who now work for you. Catagorize it as one of the perimeters of your new job. Focus your attention on other things and move on.

A good balance for this new on-the-job isolation is to build relationships with new peers. You can accomplish this through outside organizations and associations. These organizations are actually all about peer support. They may charter themselves as philanthropic (Rotary, Jaycees, Lions, etc.) but typically they are all about people at the same level in their careers. There may be career specific organizations (engineering, teacher, and chef to name a few) where the commonality of education provides the bond. Think about fraternities, alumnus clubs, tailgating at games, they all have one thing in common. They all provide peer company for particular interests. Look hard enough and you will find many outlets that will bring you in contact with peers who have the same interests at work.

In the corporate world, I organized informal contacts with those at my level of management. Go to lunch, e-mail, stay in contact about what is happening to each other. Granted it takes some extra work, but the information and support you gain will make it well worth the effort. Small business owners can do the same with other owners in their community and in their particular line of work.

Don’t resent what you have lost, turn toward what you can now gain. It does get more lonely as you advance your career but it doesn’t have to be a total work cocoon. The amount of effort you put into making new and beneficial relationships will determine the amount of isolation you experience.

And, don’t forget the friendship that will never leave you lonely. Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”