From Isolation to Innovation: 3 Tips to Beat Learning Leader Loneliness
September 29 • Written by Kathryn Olson
Take action on feeling less lonely and more inspired to innovate in your unique leadership position! Get inspired by our founder’s story and the three tips we have to lift you out of the feeling of isolation.
We have a special place in our hearts for learning leaders. We work with them every day and love celebrating their triumphs and helping them meet the challenges they face. Many leaders we work with are new and emerging leaders who bring energy to their position but are facing the same reality as many leaders in every industry face: being in a leadership position can feel very lonely.
This makes sense, right? The role itself is demanding, there’s a lack of internal peer support just because you have so few peers, and your decision-making responsibilities can feel isolated. There’s also constant pressure to maintain a facade of competence in a job that likely involves skills you’re still developing.
Julie Dozier, Tangram’s intrepid founder, has firsthand experience with these feelings. Here is her story:
“Several years ago I made the big jump from being a curriculum manager at one organization to leading the global Learning Design function at another. I was excited for the chance to lead and the trust being placed in me. I wanted to capitalize on the opportunity. But, I was overwhelmed by my new role and what I saw as my two most urgent responsibilities: developing my vision and delivering against that vision yesterday.
At the time, I really wanted someone to help me figure it all out. I wanted to get others’ perspectives and ideas and learn from their experiences. But I felt like I had no time to pause and get help — and I was supposed to know what I was doing! That tension between my desire and need for help and the loneliness of being in a leadership role is ultimately what inspired me to start consulting.”
If this is you too, we’re going to give you 3 tips we’ve learned from personal experience and the amazing learning leaders we work with:
Tip #1: Build a support network.
First, seek out peer mentors who can offer guidance and share their experiences with you. You might also consider creating a leadership advisory board comprised of individuals whose insights you value and trust. You could find these peers and advisors by joining leadership communities and organizations with valuable connections and resources.
We suggest also finding a leadership framework that resonates with your values and goals that gives structure to your hard work. We happen to have a framework like this that we are currently guiding an amazing cohort of learning leaders through!
Tip #2: Tell your story.
Take a large step back and look at your situation from a broader perspective. You’re on a journey, and you’re learning so many things as you go. Find opportunities to unveil the "a-ha" moments and thrilling discoveries along your journey – these moments become your professional milestones. Label yourself as an innovator, for whom navigating uncharted territory one step at a time becomes the norm.
When you articulate your experiences, you not only reflect on your path but also ignite the curiosity of others, encouraging them to embark on their own adventures. You’ll also find that sharing your story is a savvy technique to coax out the narratives of fellow travelers. It connects people and invites them to reveal their unique perspectives, contributing to a collective tapestry of growth and exploration. Your story becomes a potent tool for personal development and the enrichment of a broader community.
Tip #3: Practice vulnerability and ask for help.
In our interactions with learning leaders, we've discovered a common thread running through their concerns, regardless of the size of their team, budget constraints, or their tenure in their roles. They all ponder questions like, 'Are we on the right track with our learning initiatives?' 'What are we overlooking?' 'What aspects should we reconsider?' These big questions are often too big for one person to solve. You might need help sometime – internal help from your team and even external help through staff augmentation or a consulting project.
It's also essential to prioritize self-care and mental well-being, recognizing that vulnerability also extends to acknowledging when we require support for our own personal growth.
Bonus: Here’s a step you can take today!
If you’re looking for a supportive, innovating community of professionals who are working together to answer questions like yours, we invite you to check out Tangram Labs. This space has been years in the making. We felt the need for it from our clients, and it’s confirmed when we feel the collaborative energy in every cohort meeting.
We’re here to support your journey! Contact us at connect@tangramlearning.com for further inquiries and support.