INSIDER, May 2026
April brought with it plenty of showers, both literal and figurative. As the rain poured and the trees, flowers, and wildlife emerged, my mood for much of the month matched the gloom. We received some bad news and, in coping, I fell into a pattern of isolation. Now, on the bad news – it’s not something in my immediate family, and I’ll share more in time.
On the isolation, I find it’s a slippery slope for me because I do genuinely need and enjoy solitude. Always have – it’s made traveling all over the place solo a very easy task for me. I don’t fear it, it doesn’t make me uneasy; in fact, I relish the opportunity to be on my own agenda and spend time reflecting, pondering, and just being.
However, when stress rises or hurt surfaces, my routines of solitude can easily turn into a fortress of isolation. I find myself not only struggling to ask for support, but avoiding interactions I usually find fulfilling. Awareness is an important step in changing these patterns, but it’s not easy work – social engagements that I’d usually enjoy feel forced, communication that would typically come easy seems stuck, and feeling lonely somehow exacerbates my desire to isolate myself.
Why am I sharing this? Well, a few reasons. First, it’s Mental Health Awareness Month – a nudge to share openly so that others who struggle similarly might feel less alone. Second, I think this distinction between solitude and isolation is actually an interesting one to consider in the context of field service.
A few months ago, myself and some of our Stand Out 50 leaders had a discussion around field force wellbeing. One of the topics of conversation was how real of a concern isolation is for field teams and what leaders can do about the issue. Many technicians/engineers may be very comfortable with the relative solitude of their roles, but few will be comfortable with feeling isolated.
The difference is in whether they feel seen, valued, and part of something. This doesn’t stem from any one mandate, like a forced on-site every so often, but from a genuine desire to know, appreciate, and communicate with your frontline. When I think about what I’ve been dealing with the last few weeks, I feel it important to state – when your employee is struggling most is when they’re least likely to reach out. From a mental health perspective, the age-old comment “I wish they’d just asked for help” is the most tone-deaf and frustrating to hear.
As leaders, the best approach is a very proactive one. Take an interest in your teams, get to know them as people, not just employees. Over communicate, normalize having conversations around challenges, mistakes, and struggles – related to work or otherwise. Find ways, even if it forces you to get creative, to encourage team engagement and help nurture relationships peer-to-peer so they all feel part of a bigger whole and have others they feel connected to.
Next month, on June 2nd, we’re getting together In REAL LIFE in New York City. I’m so excited for this! Our Live events are something I’ve held near and dear to my heart since we began them in 2022. If I haven’t broken free of my isolation already, it will be an immersive experience to remind me how much I truly love human connection. The days are enlightening, inspiring, and well worth the time – I’d love for you to join us! You can view the agenda and register here: https://www.futureoffieldservice.com/live-tour/
