Leading With Hope

Quinn Leoni, Director of Talent Acquisition & Talent Strategy at Transportation Insight

Leadership is an essential element for any organization to grow and thrive consistently. Especially during economic distress and employment uncertainty, the need for strong leadership becomes even more valuable as leaders help motivate and lead team members through challenging times toward a better future.

Over the last several years, we’ve had a perfect storm that requires strong leadership to step to the forefront. We’ve had a global pandemic and, most recently, an economic slowdown resulting in significant upheaval across multiple job sectors that aren’t showing signs of letting up. Given that context, leadership has never been more important to our team members and our organizations. It’s even more critical now that our leaders provide the one thing our team members need most, given what we’ve all experienced and continue to experience daily. And what is that? It’s Hope!

Economic distress and employment uncertainty are all around us. We get bombarded at every turn, whether it is social media, mainstream news outlets, television, or even print media. The drumbeat is relentless, and we constantly feel the pressure at work, home, with friends, and family as there seems to be no break. It knocks us down at every turn. Now, after years of global and economic distress, it feels more personal right now. 

"Leaders who provide hope during difficult times build confidence and morale among team members. They inspire team members to stay focused even when faced which obstacles and setbacks."

This is a pivotal moment for all of us. 

The one thing that has led people through challenging times over and over in the past is hope. We need our leaders to lead through these difficult times, helping to motivate people and drive them towards a better, brighter future together.  

Coming off the COVID-19 pandemic and right into the current economic and employment environment has been challenging for many and has left individuals weary, oppressed, and defeated. Many have experienced significant disruptions. 

We’ve seen massive job losses and experienced tremendous uncertainty, some very personally. In times like these, we tend to become fearful, anxious, and uncertain about the future and can get stuck in a downward spiral if we’re not careful. This is where leaders are critical and where hope is vital. Even though it may seem like it’s over, it’s never over when we have hope. It’s only over when you choose to quit. With hope, you always have a choice. And having a leader lead with hope keeps choice alive for you. Leading with hope gives your team a chance!

As a leader, providing hope during these times is a light for others to see because when we are down, we can find it hard to see Hope if we get caught in our downward spiral. 

As a leader, when you lead with hope, you don’t let your team members stay down when life knocks them down. Hope will get them back on their feet again and again. 

Leaders who provide hope during difficult times build confidence and morale among team members. They inspire team members to stay focused even when faced which obstacles and setbacks. They also encourage their team members to see beyond the current circumstances and focus on the promise of the future. They create a sense of purpose and direction that motivates team members to keep moving despite obstacles and challenges.  

As a leader, be a light of hope for your team members. Help them see beyond their current circumstances to the promises of a brighter future because no matter what challenge today brings, hope always lies in the promise of tomorrow.