"It's lonely at the top."
You've no doubt heard this line before when it comes to leadership.
If I could tell every leader one thing, it would be that while it might feel lonely, you are not alone.
I think as leaders, we know this on an intellectual level. And yet, one of the biggest surprises for me in my experience leading peer advisory groups is how many leaders feel like they're on a boat, by themselves, with no paddle.
I think dispelling this idea is one of the reasons I love leading these groups so much. When we walk through an issue or challenge one leader is wrestling with, there's always a round of head-nodding, or a chorus of "I've been there before" or "I'm dealing with that right now, too!"
Even when there isn't a feeling of shared challenge, it's fun to see the light bulbs go off within the rest of the group. It's like they're storing away learnings for when they inevitably deal with something similar.
You are not the only leader facing the issue you're wrestling with. I promise you that.