How to escape the leadership loneliness trap before burnout hits.
Hi y’all,
There’s a silent struggle in the event industry that nobody posts about on Instagram: leadership loneliness. When you’re responsible for everything from payroll to pricing, it’s easy to feel like you’re on an island — even when surrounded by your team.
Here’s what I’ve learned: there’s a crucial difference between feeling lonely and being alone.
True leadership means serving your team, but who serves you? The isolation comes when we equate vulnerability with weakness, or when we think sharing challenges will burden our teams.
The antidote isn’t complicated, but it requires courage:
- Be authentically vulnerable: Your team doesn’t expect superhero invincibility. When you show up as your real self, challenges and all, you create space for genuine connection.
- Regulate before you communicate: Before sharing challenges with your team or other leaders, process your emotions first. That could mean talking it out with a trusted friend, going on a walk, or just taking five minutes to breathe. This isn’t about suppressing feelings but communicating them constructively.
- Create intentional community: Don’t wait for meaningful connections to happen magically — initiate them. Host that industry meetup. Join that chamber of commerce. Find your people through shared interests beyond events.
As you’re looking to expand your network of like-minded people, remember that small talk doesn’t magically transform into deep connection. Be brave enough to ask thoughtful questions that go beyond weather chitchat. The meaningful relationships you crave require intentionality.
And when it all feels too heavy, here’s my go-to support trifecta:
- Listen to Brené Brown’s “Dare to Lead” podcast
- Get a therapist (seriously, it’s a game-changer) or identify at least one person in your network for unfiltered conversations
- Dance it out or move it out — when all else fails, a physical distraction will get you out of your head and grounded in the moment
Leadership loneliness doesn’t have to be your permanent state. By reaching out with intention and showing up authentically, you’ll discover you’re not walking this path alone after all.
What helps you fight leadership loneliness? Reply and let me know!
See you next Tuesday,
Mallory Mullen
Goodshuffle
