We’ve all heard the phrase ‘It’s lonely at the top’, and as cliché as it sounds, there’s plenty of truth in it.
Studies have found that half of CEOs report challenges with Mental Illness, whilst 6 of 10 business leaders report turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms rather than professional help when it comes to business stress and loneliness.
Scrolling through LinkedIn you’d be forgiven for thinking that startup life is a constantly rose-tinted, dynamic lifestyle. Whilst that can be the reality, there are also plenty of times when leaders find themselves feeling isolated and under pressure to keep building the business and making the right decisions.
The theme of this year’s mental health awareness week was ‘loneliness’, but it’s often not something we consider when looking at the business world. When you’re at the top it can be a struggle to know who to turn to, and it’s less likely you’ll be surrounded by people in that same position.
Even success can bring its challenges – ‘Gold Medal Syndrome’ refers to the comedown that follows a huge sporting achievement – where do you go next? How can you live up to your own reputation? In business, these feelings can be just the same.
Leaders are facing all these pressures, combined with the perceived need to be resilient, showcase the highlights of leadership, and provide a source of stability for the rest of their team. That’s why vulnerability is rarely the first word that comes to mind when thinking about leadership qualities. However, the inability to open up or address struggles can stop many leaders from being able to connect with others, share their anxieties and avoid trying to go it alone.
Ashlie Collins is a 3 times business founder who has seen the impact leadership has had on her, and others around her, noticing the detrimental effects on mental health. Instead, she wants to build a more human approach to business.
“I’ve been in the position of startup leadership 3 times now, and it’s hard – anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves. But that doesn’t mean leadership has to suck the life out of you and become a drain on your mental health and relationships,” Ashlie said.
“There’s not a lot out there in terms of support for the mental health of Founders – there’s a lot on boosting your business, honing your managerial style, or reaching huge profits, but there’s not so much about what to do when you’re feeling completely burnt out.”
That’s why Ashlie wanted to set up Humane Startup, a coaching platform offering support and guidance for business leaders that comes directly from her own personal experience accumulated in over 15 years in sales and startup executive roles.
And Humane Startup is just the beginning of her journey, Ashlie is soon going to be launching a dedicated start-up therapy app to allow more leaders and sales teams to access tools to protect their mental wellbeing. The app aims to create a therapeutic community for those in the often intense startup world, offer 1-1 coaching, and create a simple, easy-to-access course full of vital resources.
“I’ve seen exactly how this kind of leadership can impact your mental health, your relationship with others, and even how well you can continue to lead. Start-up culture often glamorises the tendency to burn out, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I want to try and shift the scene from the top down.”
More information about Ashlie and the Humane Startup project can be found at humanestartup.com.
