From time to time, the hard work of being responsible for the work of others grows tiring.
While much of the literature paints a picture that makes leadership sound like a calling (and for some it is), for many in roles of responsibility for teams and groups, the position was an accident, a means to advancement or something that seemed interesting at the time.
What many discover is that people are challenging. They have emotions, goals, frustrations, personal challenges, opinions that vary with you and others and widely differing levels of ambition and abilities.
This would be easy if it weren’t for the people.
And while it’s not widely discussed, for some in leadership roles, the real challenge is that the role forces them to perpetually sublimate their own interests and pursuits and development and focus on the interests and development of others.
Noble yes, but not everyone hears the call.
Whether your issue is one of leadership fatigue or, you’re gut is telling you to stop the bus because you want to get off, it’s important to pause every once in awhile, assess your situation and either find a way to refresh and recharge, or, find a way to get off at the next stop.
A talented mid-career senior manager reached the 14-year mark out of college with 13.5 years of supervisory and management experience. She had no idea what it was like to work for herself, and wondered whether she would like it or how she would perform. She shifted to a consulting role and 18 months later was back inside a corporation leading a team. “It took that hiatus from leading to recognize that for me, leadership was and is a calling,” she offered in a catch-up call.
That was 5 years ago, and when I checked in recently, she described herself as “happier than ever” in her now very senior leadership role.
I’ve worked with senior executives who shifted out of stable corporate roles into roll-up-the-sleeves start-ups, in part, because they needed to rediscover themselves and their abilities. Yes, they ended up responsible for others in the process, but the context was different and they were completely engaged in their work, including the work of leading.
One now successful entrepreneur (and self-labeled recovering corporate executive) described it as: “Building this start-up reminded me how critical it is for me to do my best for the people helping to make our business successful. In my corporate life, that got lost in the rush from quarter to quarter.”
Others seeking a break or a recharge pursue second vocations. Writing, teaching, coding and music, are just a few of the arenas I’ve observed former and current leaders jump into (or for some, back into) as outlets for their own creative and developmental needs. Some dip their toes into familiar or new arenas and never return. Others find the balance they need to renew and recharge in their roles as leaders.
The Bottom-Line for Now:
Finding the right balance between leading others and feeding your own professional spirit is essential for success and fulfillment. When the balance tips too far in one direction, the dissonance between your own needs and your daily efforts creates stress. This internal distress is the signal that it’s time to change something in your work life.
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Excellent treatise Art. I hope it can make a difference to some leaders who give everything they’ve got and have nothing left for themselves, their friends, or their family. After all, those are the truly important things in life.
Thanks Mary Jo!