I Made It To the Top! Now What?

By Jim Bain

Its been said that its lonely at the top. But it doesnt have to be. Even the Lone Ranger wasnt alone. He had Tonto. Alexander Graham Bell had Watson. And Thomas Edison had William Hammer. So why is it that so many executives today feel so alone and disengaged?

According to a recent Gallup Management Journal (GMJ) survey of U.S. workers, there are three types of employees: engaged, not engaged and actively disengaged. The survey reported that 29 percent of the respondents were engaged, working with a passion and feeling a profound connection to their company. The not-engaged group, those who have mentally checked out” of their jobs, made up 56 percent of the respondents. The remaining 15 percent are actively disengaged, not only unhappy at work but acting out their unhappiness and undermining what their more engaged co-workers are trying to accomplish.

Maybe even more surprising, the study found that the actively disengaged group includes as much as 10 percent of executive level employees. The Gallup study showed further that engaged employees are both more productive and more profitable. They tend to stay with their companies longer, are safer and develop better relationships with the companys customers. It follows then, that actively disengaged employees are the one bad apple,” effectively spoiling the whole bunch. And, the effects are even more devastating if that bad apple is the person sitting in the executive suite.

What has happened here? Why are so many executives unhappy at work?

Experience with unhappy people tells us that, very often, their unhappiness is a result of feeling as if something in their lives is out of control. While each individual case will vary, finding the part of your life that is not in control, not in balance, will help you to become more comfortable with your entire life.

Will Rogers once said that if youre riding ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then and make sure its still there.” Most top-level executives recognize that they didnt get to the top by themselves. Theyre like the turtle on the fencepost he doesnt know how he got there, he just knows he had help. Here are some tips to find a little more peace in the corner office.

For anyone who has been there, the top spot in a company can be a lonely place. Typically they have worked hard, made sacrifices and dedicated themselves to their job and their company. Then they get there they may wonder, Is this all there is? Now what?”

Both personally and professionally, senior level executives need to repeatedly take stock of where they are. You must recognize and remember that you didnt get there alone. You must re-engage yourself in your life, both at work and at home. You must remember that your purpose lies in your service to others, to your families, to your employees and to your customers. You must care. Do that, and it wont be so lonely at the top. Good luck.

James S. Bain is an author, speaker, consultant and coach. He is the founder of Focus on the 5, a division of

Falcon Performance Institute

, a consulting and corporate training firm focused on productive performance.