There is something about the leadership that is almost unspoken about, not in the books, not in the conferences, and much less in LinkedIn.
But everyone who's really been in charge of something important has felt it.
Loneliness.
Not the physical solitude, the solitude of knowing that many of the important decisions They just go through your head.
The loneliness of listening to everyone... but knowing that in the end The decision is yours.
Because when someone has power, something changes in conversations.
People begin to take more care of what they say, bad news comes later, doubts are softened and other more human dynamics also appear.
People who start saying exactly what they think you want to hear, Sometimes because they're looking for your approval, sometimes because they want a chance, sometimes because they think they'll be closer to power and sometimes... because one day They want your job.
And then there's a strange feeling, you're surrounded by people, but it's getting harder to know. which is really true, So in the midst of that loneliness there is something that becomes extraordinarily valuable.
The dissonant voices.
People who dare to say something that does not fit your initial idea, not as an act of rebellion, but as an act of responsibility, like that voice that rises to say What many are thinking... but no one is saying.
The great leaders learn to do something very difficult: give the microphone to those voices, Listen to them without punishing them, protect them when they are uncomfortable and understand that many times there is the signal that prevents a mistake.
The solitude of leadership probably never disappears, but when you manage to identify those people who are willing to tell the truth... that solitude it becomes much more habitable.
Because in the middle of power, having people around who dare to question you is not a risk.
It is one of the greatest forms of protection a leader can have.
