Why stopping to celebrate with your team can protect you from the isolation of Leadership.

I don’t know about you, but as a leader, I often find myself alone.

As a leader in the local church, I am in meeting after meeting, on video conference after video conference, phone call after phone call, and have coffee after coffee with person after person. So, how is it that I am alone?

It’s certainly not physical isolation. What I am talking about is the isolation that comes when you are the one leading the way, when you’re the one out in front. You are, after all, the one who spends the most time thinking and dreaming about your organization. So, inevitably, you find yourself thinking and processing well out ahead of the rest of your staff team and your key leaders. This is what leaders do – we find ourselves out in front, anticipating obstacles, brainstorming new ideas, dreaming big dreams about what’s coming next. We are forging ahead, leading the charge. And that’s a good thing – but if we don’t stop from time to time, leadership can lead us into an experience of isolation that may derail us and can diminish our ability to lead our organization to effectively accomplish the mission in the end.

As leaders, if we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves further and further detached from the people around us, the ones we’re leading, the ones we are partnering with for the sake of change and impact. If we get too far down the road and lose touch with our team, we’ll end up frustrated and wondering why our staff and key leaders aren’t as excited as they once were, why they’re having trouble getting on board or just can’t seem to get their minds around our new ideas. We’ll be tempted to leave them behind and forge ahead on our own – this will only cement our isolation and get in the way of the mission.

So how do we lead from the front without living in isolation. There are three vital things that great leaders do that can protect you from losing touch and becoming isolated as a leader. They all involve stopping, turning around, and engaging with your team.

First, you can stop and be excited for the progress that has been made so far. Say things like, “Look how far we’ve come! Look what we’ve accomplished.” As leaders, the truth is, we’re never really satisfied with the progress and we’re almost always focused on what still needs to be done, but it is essential that we stop and acknowledge the great work that has helped our organization move this far along the path of change. It’s not only okay, it’s vital that you stop to take a moment to feel good about what you’ve done together as a team. Taking a moment to feel good about your progress will help you stay connected with your team.

Second, you can stop and say thank you. There are few things that connect people to one another as quickly as a genuine thank you. When you as a leader stop to look someone in the eye and say ‘thank you for the part you’ve played in helping us get to where we are’ – that’s a powerful and unifying thing. Not only does it protect you from isolation and from pride – saying thank you gives voice to what everyone already knows – you could never have gotten this far on your own. A genuine thank you goes a long way toward building relationships and creating connection.

Third, stop and paint a picture of what’s possible now because of what you’ve already accomplished and where you’ve already been. Say things like, ‘We can do it – remember when we overcame the last obstacle?’ ‘We’re so much more adaptable now, we can totally do this!’ You can paint a picture of what’s on horizon ‘I was just up ahead, and it’s amazing, it’s not much further and you’re going to be so glad when you get there and see it for yourself!’ By painting a picture of what’s possible because of your accomplishments together – there is a compelling reason and desire to keep going as a team to see what else can be achieved. You’ll be better connected to your team and you’ll be better protected from the dangers of long-term isolation.

Here’s the thing – I get it – leadership is lonely at times. I often feel the weight of isolation in my role as a pastor. And the truth is, a lot of the time, I am out in front of everyone else – that’s what leaders do, that’s who we are. But by stopping and celebrating with your team, you can protect yourself from becoming too isolated, too disconnected. If you get too far out in front for too long – you may just forget why you decided to lead change in your organization. You may forget who has helped you get this far.

Stop and celebrate. Say thank you. Paint a picture of what’s next. Stay connected.