Dealers in Hope

What are some of your hopes for 2011? Is it to make more money? To hire some new employees? To bring your life into greater balance? To beat your competition? Perhaps more importantly, why do you hope for these things? Why are they important to you?

The concept of hope has been both celebrated and ridiculed by many of the world’s poets, philosophers, and leaders. “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope,” writes Dr. Martin Luther King. “Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man,” counters Friedrich Nietzsch. A quick Google search for hope reveals hundreds of quotes and poems written about this subject.

I want to offer a few observations about hope from the perspective of leadership. Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as saying, “A leader is a dealer in hope.” At first glance I was tempted to cynically equate this quote with the “smoke and mirrors” speeches that often accompany our political campaigns and national agenda. We can all remember a time when our emotions were swayed by the empty rhetoric of a speech or sound byte. That’s not the context for hope I want to connect with Bonaparte’s take on leaders.

While it is tempting to use hope as some magical motivational tool, leaders must also be willing to ground their words of possibility with the practical, common sense realities of the situation. How can a leader credibly encourage employees to not lose hope in the future of the company when they know about planned furloughs or facility shutdowns? People deserve to hear the hard truths about what is happening while still being invited to have courage in the face of adversity.

Hope is rooted in the realization that nothing is permanent. Today’s euphoria will eventually give way to tomorrow’s depression. Tomorrow’s victory will be tainted by the losses of next week. Winter’s formidable chill and darkness will surrender to the warmth and light of Spring. Leaders who deal in hope know these truths and invite those around them to share their stories of pain and success, of joy and sorrow.

Today’s stressed workplaces generally feel hopeless. Employees are worried about job security. Managers are struggling with tighter budgets and limited resources. In this volatile environment a leader who effectively deals in hope would be a much needed catalyst for change.

So become a dealer in hope. Invite people to believe in themselves and each other. Encourage storytelling about the company’s history, especially it’s positive past. Focus less on fears and failures. Dream together about what is possible. Keep hope alive.