“Lonely at the top” is usually said with a shrug. Gallup’s 2026 global workplace research gives the phrase numbers. Leaders and managers report more daily stress, anger, sadness and loneliness than individual contributors, and they are less likely to say they smiled or laughed a lot the previous day.
A paradox
The finding comes in a year when global wellbeing actually improved: 2025 was the first year in three in which wellbeing rose. The people responsible for others’ work are, on average, not sharing in that improvement.
Engagement protects leaders too
Gallup finds that engaged leaders are 14% more likely to be thriving in their overall lives than the average leader. Purpose, autonomy and strong relationships at work are not only good for teams; they also protect the people at the top.
Practical steps
- Build a peer circle outside your own company, where you can speak openly without managing an audience.
- Protect time for recovery with the same discipline you apply to the calendar.
- Delegate decisions, not just tasks; carrying every decision alone is a major source of strain.
This is one reason private leadership circles exist: the most useful conversations for a leader are often with peers who carry similar responsibility.
Sources
Photo: Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash