Hope is a powerful force. It enables people to envision a better future and believe it is achievable. Hope-based leaders effectively generate optimism in their teams and understand what needs to be done to accomplish goals.
There are six key elements of hope-based leadership:
- Create and communicate a vision. Use this to guide purpose and a team-wide commitment to goals.
- Build a sense of possibility. Help people understand why the goals – however lofty – are achievable.
- Set goals. It’s okay to set the bar high, but make sure goals are realistic.
- Establish relationships that provide “energy.” Open, caring relationships wo help mobilize, support, and maintain hope.
- Generate multiple pathways. This enables the team to be more agile and overcome or work around barriers. This, in turn, increases the achievability of goals.
- Develop strategic patience. Being patient is a key part of hope. Becoming impatient or rushing things can suggest to the team that goals aren’t achievable after all and that you have doubts about their ability to succeed.
