Conversations with a CEO: The Loneliness of Power and the Challenges of Being a CEO
Once upon a time, there was a young entrepreneur named Alejandro, who, after years of hard work and deep commitment, achieved his goal of becoming the CEO of a startup. He was excited about this position and the opportunity to lead his team to success.
However, within a couple of months, he began to feel the “loneliness of power.” Even though he had a team at his disposal, he realized he couldn’t ask a superior for help or share his fears as he used to do.
One day, while he was meditating about this situation, his friend Ismael, who had also been a CEO, called him.
“Hi Alejandro. I’ve heard that you’re grappling with the loneliness of power,” he said in a empathetic voice.
“Yes, Ismael. I can’t help but feel lonely and vulnerable in this new position. I don’t have anyone to ask for help, and everyone expects me to be proactive, brilliant, and have the perfect solution for every problem,” Alejandro replied with concern.
Ismael sighed. “Believe me, every CEO goes through this in the beginning. It’s a heavy load, but you have to remember that you’re there for a reason. The key is to remain true to yourself and take care of your well-being.”
Alejandro reflected on his friend’s words and decided to find a way to confront the loneliness of power instead of letting it defeat him. Over the next few days, he conducted research and spoke to experienced CEOs in search of advice.
Finally, he arrived at a conclusion that struck a chord. He didn’t need to worry about the specific problems of day-to-day operations but rather focus on his overall well-being and prevent the pressure and stress from slowly wearing him down.
With this new perspective, Alejandro understood that he couldn’t be present in every situation or have all the answers. He recalled words a client had once shared: “divide and conquer.” This led him to realize that he had to identify which tasks truly required his presence to provide his experienced opinion. He then concentrated his efforts on prioritizing and delegated new responsibilities to his trusted team.
Alejandro learned to trust his leadership and let go of the fear of showing vulnerability when it was appropriate and beneficial to the company’s growth. Over time, he discovered he was not alone on the battlefield. He began opening up to those around him, both inside and outside the company, and found that many people had experienced the “loneliness of power” at some point in their careers.
This realization enabled him to build a strong and valuable network where he could share his concerns and receive advice from other leaders. This support helped him maintain the best version of himself and successfully tackle all the challenges that came his way.
