If you've been leading for years, you've probably felt it. If you're just starting, you may discover it along the way.

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Leadership can be lonely.

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When I led teams, I genuinely liked the people I worked with. Sometimes I wanted to just be one of the group.

But I wasn't. I was the leader, and that meant making decisions that weren't always popular.

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Years ago, a woman who had worked on my team for several years left me a note on her last day.

She told me she didn't always like my decisions, but she always knew I was honest, fair and looking out for the entire team.

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I've never forgotten that.

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Somewhere along the way, I learned that the test of leadership isn't whether the people you lead always like you.

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It's whether they respect you and trust you enough to follow you anyway.

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Someone recently asked if it bothers me that some people don't like some of my posts.

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Quick answer: No.

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Not because I don't care what people think. I've just learned whose opinions deserve weight in my life.

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There are people I deeply respect and learn from. Some know they're mentors to me. Some have no idea.

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Being liked feels good. Being respected matters more.

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If you're leading, or about to, there will be times when it feels lonely.

Just don't confuse being alone in a decision with being wrong.

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How do you navigate the balance between being liked and being respected in your role?

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