The corner office was unusually dark for midday. During our weekly lunch meetings, I watched as a respected CEO—someone the community had always seen as unshakeable—shared the reality behind his public facade.

The challenges were mounting:

• Multiple projects failing simultaneously

• Constant pressure from lenders

• Difficult staffing decisions ahead

• Personal financial strain affecting his family

• The isolation that comes with leadership responsibility

Here’s what struck me most:

When you’re at the top, there’s often no one to talk to when things get difficult. The weight of leadership can be isolating, especially during crisis.

This experience reinforced something crucial about executive support:

Leaders need confidential sounding boards—someone outside the organization who can listen without judgment, help process complex situations, and explore alternative solutions when the path forward isn’t clear.

Over the following months, having a trusted advisor to share the emotional burden made all the difference. He navigated through the crisis, made strategic pivots, and emerged with a stronger, more resilient organization.

The lesson? Even the most capable leaders benefit from having someone in their corner—not to solve their problems, but to help them think more clearly and lead with greater confidence.

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What has your experience been with leadership during challenging times? How do you maintain perspective when the stakes are high?

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