They say it's lonely at the top - 'they' are right!

In this blog, Ruth Holdaway, Chief Executive of Women in Sport, looks back at her first few days in the job as CEO and how important the opportunities are for leaders to learn on the job.

As I pen this blog, Jeremy Corbyn is starting day two as leader of the Labour Party – I’m sure he’s about to find out just how lonely it can be…and I wonder where the leader of a political party goes to get support from peers? I can’t really imagine him and David Cameron sitting down to a cuppa and a chat about how it’s all going, can you?!

I consider myself privileged to work in a sector where peers, in my experience, are incredibly supportive – strange you might think, for sport, such a naturally competitive arena – but I assure you, it’s true. When it comes to leadership I have always found fellow CEO’s to be collaborative, friendly and supportive.

Now don’t get me wrong – when I say there’s truth in the old adage that it’s lonely at the top I’m not suggesting I’m at the top. No, no! In fact quite the opposite.

I’ve been in post as CEO of Women in Sport for nearly two years now (time flies!) and I can assure you I definitely don’t feel like I am anywhere near the summit – more like I’m dragging myself, and trying to persuade others to follow me, up a huge mountain and every time I think I might have reached a little plateau it’s as if the mountain just rises up in front of me bigger, bolder, taller, more slippery!

I don’t consider myself at the top – but I do feel that leadership loneliness at times.

It brings me no shame to say that the last two years, my first two as a Chief Executive, have been tough. I often think about CEO’s I have worked for in the past – with great affection and sympathy; now I see where they were coming from!

It’s the carrying of responsibility for all the decisions that can feel lonely. For all the people, for the history of the organisation, for the cause – in my case a cause I am truly passionate about - that’s what I have found the toughest I think. But that’s where peers come in.

I’m still a relative newbie in sport, but since my day two in the job I’ve had an incredibly supportive group of peers that I can turn to for advice and support.

Because my day two saw me attending the Sport & Recreation Alliance Leadership Convention – it turned out to be the best day two I could have hoped for. I was made to feel so welcome, a number of people asked me to sit with them, explained things to me, helped me navigate the landscape. Last year I went back again – it was another couple of days of great speakers and inspiring ideas, but it was the networking and support from peers that meant the most to me – and still does. A ‘safe’ space where we can all let off a bit of steam and work though challenges together – we’re lucky to have it.

So, on November 3rd I’ll be packing a bag and heading to Nottingham to share the highs and the lows of the climb with fellow CEOs. If you are a leader in sport and you’ve ever felt lonely in your role, felt the weight of the responsibility, come and join us and share the load.

Back in the day job, all I can do is continue learning, keep climbing, keep believing. I’m passionate about gender equality and I’ll probably be scaling the inequality mountain for the rest of my life until we all reach that level playing field at the top – and we will reach it – I have no doubt!

So, that just leaves me to wonder …is Jeremy having as productive a day two as I had?

Ruth Holdaway
Chief Executive, Women in Sport

To find out more about the Leadership Convention and how to book your place, click here.

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