Leadership Can Be Lonely

Everybody likes to be liked. But, [effective leaders](https://www.radiusplus.com/keyword/effective leaders) know and accept that they might sometimes be [lonely at work](https://www.radiusplus.com/keyword/lonely at work). They resist the strong temptation to be universally liked. Leaders who try to please everybody end up pleasing nobody.

Effective leaders know that the job is not about friendship but rather about getting stuff done.

Effective leaders know they must:

• sometimes give people feedback they don't want to hear
• sometimes go against the crowd and do what is right
• always hold themselves to a higher standard of behavior
• sometimes make tough choices that will leave people angry
• sometimes tell people "no"
• sometimes say unpopular things
• sometimes not tell a joke which is sure to get a laugh
• always stay out of the rumor and gossip business

If these things are done with fairness and respect for others, the [high regard](https://www.radiusplus.com/keyword/high regard) earned will more than offset the loneliness of being an effective leader. And the results will be evident in a [well-run business](https://www.radiusplus.com/keyword/well-run business) and a [well-led team](https://www.radiusplus.com/keyword/well-led team).