Leadership Thought #249 – Isolate Yourself At Your Own Risk
Too many people isolate themselves to their own detriment.
Being an extrovert, I have often had a tough time understanding introverts, but as I age, I have become slightly more introverted. Maybe I appreciate peace and quiet more? When you grow up in a large family, as I did, you get used to all the noise and activity. In fact, if you are extroverted, you usually thrive in it.
The simple fact is that life involves dealing with people, especially if you aspire to a leadership position. If you are an introvert, you will need to stretch your style to meet the requirements of management and leadership. If you want to have a successful relationship with another person, you will need bonding time together. If you opt to become a parent, you will need to put your needs second to your children’s. If you want to have a circle of friends and colleagues, then you will need to invest time and energy in keeping these friendships alive and healthy. You must balance these factors against your desire for solitude.
There is nothing wrong with being an introvert. At times, I find myself envious of their self-assurance and their readiness to embrace their solitude. However, as with everything, too much of anything is never a good thing. Introversion that becomes self-imposed isolation is not healthy. You can’t go through life solely focused on your agenda and expect to be happy. Part of the happiness formula involves having a positive impact on others. Human beings expect some level of empathy from each other, and personal growth cannot happen in a vacuum.
While personal independence and self-reliance are good things, we live in a society that requires interdependency and cooperation. It’s impossible to fully isolate yourself from other people. Children and the elderly depend on others due to their specific circumstances. Physical and emotional vulnerability is a reality that confronts us all at the beginning and end of our lives. In addition, many close adult and professional relationships are co-dependent because we need other people to both experience life fully and get things done. You cannot simply turn on a switch and anticipate its presence.
In times of trouble or difficulty, it does matter that you have a support network of people who genuinely care about you, gladly assume a supportive role, and allow you to let your guard down and be real. No man or woman is an island. Personal isolation only leads to loneliness, bitterness, cynicism, and regret. Don’t fight what nature puts in front of you to help guide you through the journey. Isolate yourself at your own risk.
Related articles
- How Strong Leaders Ask for Help (forbes.com)
- When Isolating Yourself Becomes Dangerous (psychologytoday.com)
- Do Introverts and Extroverts See Reality Differently? (psychologytoday.com)
- Introvert: How to become more social (beast4romtheeast.wordpress.com)
- Why Introverts Make Great Leaders – Sometimes (psychologytoday.com)
- Loneliness – a personal reflection. (nelkabelka.wordpress.com)
- 3 Ways to Lift Loneliness (psychcentral.com)
- Must It Be Lonely at the Top? (psychologytoday.com)
