HOPE: The Cornerstone of Leadership

In the 1800’s, an Italian intellectual, named Giacomo Leopardi, wrote about the overriding unhappiness of human beings, saying that “as long as man feels life, he also feels displeasure and pain.” Hope is the one thing that lifts the human spirit and keeps us going in spite of our difficulties that we face. Hope looks beyond life’s hardships to a better, brighter tomorrow. It keeps us believing and expecting that out of today’s darkness, tomorrow’s light will shine brightly. Hope is seeing the future; a future we can attain if we keep moving forward and, as needed, adjusting and adapting. A leader’s hopeful outlook enables people to see beyond today’s challenges to tomorrow’s answers.

The word hope is derived from the old English word hopian and it literally means to “leap forward with expectation.” Hope is a real genuine feeling of possibility.It has substance when there is a clear vision and a defined direction. It is more than a wish; an optimistic thought or faith. Maintaining hope has to do with being able to evaluate, recover from discouragement, and hold onto the vision of what can be. It is an emotional magnet that keeps people going even in the midst of challenges.

Hope is essential in order to live our lives. A person who is in search of a job must hope that they’ll find suitable employment, investors who have lost their money must believe that they will overcome this hurdle, or a lost traveller must hope to find his way back. Living with zero hope leads to depression, and eventually death. When Italian philosopher and poet, Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) attempted to describe hell in his Divine Comedy, he proposed a big sign at the entrance, saying, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here!” The worst punishment is to deprive someone of hope.

The Roman statesman, Pliny, once said, “Hope is the pillar that holds up the world.” He was correct. Without hope, society would collapse, as we would live our lives in despair.Hope enables us to believe that the future we envision is attainable, and to move toward our visions and goals while inspiring others toward those goals as well.

Leaders today face unprecedented challenges. The twentieth century began in a mood of great optimism. Since the beginning of the Enlightenment Era, optimism had dominated the way of thinking in the Western world. New inventions, new modes of travel, the dramatic increase of medical knowledge, the introduction of new machines would improve all lives. However, life after September 11, 2001 has greatly changed. There is fear everywhere and, considering the world we live in, that fear is understandable.It’s easy to understand why. Between 2003 and 2012, there has been an average of 338 devastating natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and cyclones,just to name a few each year. These disasters have left thousands dead and millions homeless, and have dramatically affected the world economy, costing a massive U.S. $157 billion. Senseless terrorist attacks have created feelings of fear and anxiety in the face of horrific acts of brutality. And, to make matters worse, the world’s economy hangs on a thin line. Russian philosopher, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, was undoubtedly right when he said, “To live without hope is to cease to live.”

“I believe hope is the only thing we can never afford to be without, and the jet fuel for the journey of work and life.” —Libby Gill

The world‘s greatest leaders all have one thing in common; they brought hope in the face of despair. The Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a Dream” speech oozes hope. As he addressed the crowd, he acknowledged their plight. “I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations.” He kept their eyes on the brighter road ahead. “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair… This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” Although he has passed on and most of us never had the opportunity to meet him,his words still continue to inspire millions around the world and that is why we admire leaders like him. They gave us something to hold on to;they made a personal connection with us through giving us hope.

Challenging times like these that we are facing, are the most difficult in which to lead, especially as the workplace changes,?the economy struggles, and employees live in fear and uncertainty of their jobs. People are challenged to remain motivated. On top of that, leaders are asking for more and more, which does not directly correlate with an increase in remuneration. Leaders; therefore,need to make a positive impact in people’s lives. People are looking for inspiration that speaks to their needs.

Emotions are contagious. Employees don’t leave their emotions at the door when they report for work. If they are having personal problems, those emotions affect their work. Similarly, no one can sustain constant sacrifice. Almost every organization has been trying to do more with less resources lately, and it’s taking a toll on employees.

One Monday morning, when I came out my office to greet staff , I noticed many employees were missing. I enquired with management on the floor and it was determined many of them were facing personal problems, which included sickness, death of a family member, ill parents, children issues, financial and relationship problems. It was a dismal atmosphere in the office. Almost everybody was going through something. They were barely hanging on. I realized I had to do more because it was affecting their attendance and subsequent productivity. Our office had to be a place of Hope. I wanted them to be inspired and not dread to have to come to work in spite of all the troubles they were facing.

Many individuals just want a leader to tell them that everything is going to be okay. They want a sense of security; a feeling that their worries will soon be gone. People search for hope to recapture that moment in time when they had minimal problems and felt their best.

7 ways Leaders can instil Hope:

1. Be visible. Be Present.
2. Be as open, honest,and as fair as possible.
3. Emphasize Optimism.
4. Encourage and Motivate.
5. Focus on Possibility.
6. Let your people know how much you Value them.
7. Invest in People

Please don’t misunderstand; hope is not a good way to manage a business. Budgets, strategic plans, targets, and forecasts are all tools that leaders use to manage a business on a day to day basis, but hope is needed to lead people. Hope is intangible, but it is a matter of human nature that we all seek.

Three Benefits of Hope

• Hope Restores Faith
• Hope Promotes Clarity
• Hope Helps to Increase Productivity

Hope is a vital component of a leader’s life. The leaders’ hope surrounds the belief that his goal will be attained. It enables one to face tough times with creativity and resilience. Leading in these uncertain times requires inspiration more than ever. The ability to instil hope is a necessary leadership trait. However, one of the most important things that a leader must do is provide clarity of direction. As a leader, you are first and foremost judged on the results that you deliver. While in organizations, hope without a good business strategy is most certainly a recipe for disaster; the opposite is equally as true. Hope can certainly be a viable strategy—but without substance, value, and daily progress, selling hope becomes limited and irresponsible. Don’t abuse the power of hope. Don’t give people unfounded or false hope. Only use hope as a means if you can truly help people move in a more positive direction.

Check out my new book :

The Ultimate Leader: Learning, Leading and Leaving a Legacy of Hope

It will Energize your Mind, Body & Soul and strengthen you for the journey ahead. It is an impeccable road map to building and maintaining leadership effectiveness even in the midst of uncertainty.

To Your continued Success!

Cheers! ??????????