No road is too long with good company – Turkish Proverb.

Meet Reginald and Pearl—an unlikely duo for sure. Both are certified winners in their respective height titles by Guinness World Records.

Reginald is a seven-year-old Great Dane from Idaho who stands 3 feet 3 inches tall. Pearl, a four-year-old chihuahua from Florida, stands 3.59 inches tall. 

Not long ago, Guinness arranged a play date for the two, and despite their size difference, both had a tail-wagging good time. They spent two days together on a farm in Idaho; by all accounts, they bonded and played well together. According to one of the owners, Reginald and Pearl found common ground despite their height differences. 

Finding common ground and developing friendships sounds simple enough. But is it?

A Pew Research Survey found that 61% of U.S. adults believe having close friends is essential for living a fulfilled life. Yet in another survey, 15% of men report having no close friendships, five times more than the survey results from 1990.

Leadership can be isolating and lonely. The weight of a leader’s responsibilities can be overwhelming. Rather than being vulnerable and relatable, many leaders self-isolate from those around them. Eventually, the burden of going it alone becomes overwhelming, and many a good leader burns out. Could this be you?

In my years in leadership, I’ve known what it feels like to carry that weight alone. It’s not healthy, and there is a better path to take. So what is a leader to do? Here is a bit of advice I’d like to share.

Embrace the risk of friendship.

Many leaders who self-isolate or otherwise keep people at a distance do so for fear of being too close to those around them. They fear that colleagues who befriend them will take advantage of them or that they are afraid to let their guard down—all valid concerns. 

As a leader, you must understand that people will treat you differently. And it can be just as awkward for them as it is for you. And inasmuch as you wrestle with your feelings and how to handle them, the other person is doing the same.

Leadership Tip: Take the risk. Embrace friendships. Be proactive in putting the other person at ease and let them know you genuinely care for the people you lead. Somewhere down the line, will you get burned? Maybe. But you can be a leader as well as a friend. 

Additional Resource: The Power of Your Tribe: Who Belongs in it and Why

Embrace the vulnerability of friendship.

One of the qualities of any friendship is vulnerability. Vulnerability is our way of being comfortable in our skin and embracing our shared humanity. Being vulnerable builds connections and trust as we open up with others about how we feel, think, and process what we are going through.

Many leaders struggle with vulnerability. They would rather keep a poker face and keep their cards close to their chests regarding their thoughts and feelings. As a result, having close friends is a constant struggle.

Leadership Tip: Embrace vulnerability. While you may feel you are letting your guard down too much, it will drive people away; you may just be surprised by how much this one act will endear you to those you lead. Being vulnerable doesn’t make you less of a leader; it makes you more relatable as a leader. Click To Tweet

Additional Resource: Leadership in a Word: Vulnerable

Embrace the reward of friendship. 

My leadership mentor, John Maxwell, says, “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” This is the payoff for having good friends.

I firmly believe that we are not meant to do life alone. While many leaders approach friendships cautiously and even at a distance, the value and importance of friendship cannot be denied. I am thankful that I walk through life with friends who’ve been there through life’s joys, sorrows, and challenges. I am grateful to have a team around me whose checks I sign, but whom I consider valued friends. 

Leadership Tip: You will never know the rewards of friendship until you embrace the risk and are willing to be vulnerable. When you do, you will soon realize that you are a better leader because of it.

Additional Resource: Ellen Was Right

©2025 Doug Dickerson