Finding Connection in Leadership

Fortunately, I don’t feel a sense of professional isolation anymore—I have the best business partner in the world (biased, but true). However, there was a distinct point in my career when it crept in regularly. Oddly enough, I wasn’t even the business owner. I was the manager—the direct support to the owner and the primary point of contact for the staff. Yet, it was one of the loneliest roles I’ve ever had.

I wasn’t sitting at the decision-making table with the owner, though I was far enough up the ladder that I couldn’t just grab coffee and strategize about a rough day with a teammate—definitely couldn’t vent. I was stuck in this awkward middle ground—close to the core of the business, yet disconnected from the community within it.

Now, working alongside various business owners, I see this kind of isolation show up all the time. It weighs heavy on my heart as I reflect on that chapter in my own career, knowing it doesn’t have to stay that way. And no, I’m not writing this to tell you to go find a business partner per se. Define business partner 🤔 

Isolation at the Top (and in the Middle)

Professional isolation isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t come with a flashing sign. It sneaks in during the in-between moments—when you’re carrying the weight of big decisions but have no one to process them with, or when you’re leading a team but feel like you can’t fully step into it as yourself. You’re in the room, but not quite of the room.

There’s this unspoken belief that leaders—whether business owners, managers, or team leads—should always have it together. The truth is, leadership often amplifies isolation. It doesn’t just wear on your heart—it chips away at your energy, creativity, and even your health.

The Shift: From Isolation to Connection

I didn’t fully realize how much that season of disconnect was impacting me until I was on the other side of it. At the time, I thought I was doing everything “right”—being the strong, steady point between the owner and the team. Looking back, I can see how that isolation dulled my spark. It drained my creativity, slowed my problem-solving, and made me second-guess my leadership.

The shift happened when I found partnership. Now, with Moxie Manifest, I have that baked into my work. Angelik and I don’t just share the strategies and the wins—we share the hard stuff, too. We brainstorm when things get messy, lean on each other when leadership feels heavy, proofread emails when we’ve re-read them 100 times but still can’t hit “send”... and of course, celebrate the moments when it all clicks! That partnership changed everything.

I realize not every business owner or manager has that luxury, which is a big part of why Moxie exists—to be that steady, reliable backbone for leaders who might otherwise feel like they’re navigating it all alone.

Daniel Friedland’s Leading Well from Within offers a beautiful perspective on this. He emphasizes that leading from a place of mindful connection not only supports your well-being but also creates more resilient, high-performing teams. It’s not about oversharing or crossing boundaries; it’s about showing up as a human first, leader second.

Small Shifts That Make a Big Difference

If you’re feeling that quiet sense of professional loneliness right now, here are a few things that helped me—and that I see help the business owners we work with:

💡 Find Your “Anchor” People:

Whether it’s a peer, a mentor, or even a consultant, having someone outside your immediate team to bounce ideas off, vent to, and brainstorm with can be a game-changer.

💡 Create Boundaries and Bridges:

You can hold leadership boundaries while fostering authentic connection with your team. Building a culture where people feel safe being human helps everyone—including you—feel less isolated.

💡 Talk About It More:

Loneliness thrives in silence. The more we normalize these conversations, the more we realize how common this experience is—and how fixable it can be.

💡 Don’t Be Afraid to Lean on Support:

That’s what Moxie is here for. Yes, we help with growth strategies, hiring plans, and operational puzzles—but we’re also the people you can come to when things feel heavy, messy, or just plain overwhelming. We’re in your corner for the hard stuff, too.

You Don’t Have to Lead Alone

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This feels a little too familiar,” know this: professional loneliness isn’t a reflection of your leadership—it’s a reflection of how isolating leadership can be. It doesn’t have to stay that way.

Whether you have a solid support system or you’re still figuring that out, you deserve connection in your leadership journey. If you need someone in your corner? Moxie’s here. We’re not just about strategy—we’re about supporting the human side of leadership.

Because leadership isn’t meant to be a solo mission.