August 2009
Hope:
A Positive Attitude
For
many leaders it may be difficult to maintain a positive attitude in today’s
world. With the economy rising and falling rapidly and bad news around every
corner, it may seem that the world is falling apart. However, it is imperative
that leaders continue to provide a sense of hope for themselves and for their
followers. With that thought we come to the question of why hope is so
important to leadership.
In
Martha Finney’s book In the Face of Uncertainty she discusses
that in an environment of rapidly shifting priorities the concept of offering
hope is crucial. “It is important for employers and leaders at every level to
make clear that there are terrific opportunities and genuine hope for the
future.” It is important to keep a positive attitude about the future. Leaders
are, in essence, a bank of hope where others can go and withdrawal from the
hope account and apply it to their own lives.
What does hope
encompass? Finney says that hope is a combination of “energy, enthusiasm,
skills, and a belief in the future.” It is key for leaders to incorporate the
virtue of hope in their own leadership style, as well as ensure those they lead
are integrating hope into their lives. Hope is a positive attitude, that with
it carries out positive thoughts and positive actions. Maintaining these
positive attitudes is essential in maintaining the actions that follow, and
leaders are the central bank of hope for everyone else to draw from. Why is
hope beneficial? Finney says that, “hope gives you confidence in yourself,
belief in your family, and the courage and patience to deal with your present
circumstances.” By having hope, we can better develop the virtues of courage
and patience to help us handle both present and future situations that we may
face.
Leaders are under an
obligation to reflect hope in everything they do. Leaders must help establish a
culture of hope and a positive environment for others. Hope needs to become
part of a leader’s lifestyle and leadership style. Hope is a combination of
enthusiasm and energy that will help develop courage and patience both leaders
and those they lead need in order to handle any situation that may arise. It is
the integral associations of hope with the drive to ensure progress tied with
these important aspects of hope that make hope an essential element of
leadership.
Timothy (T.J.) Martin
Troy, Alabama
timothyemartinjr@gmail.com