In recent months the topic of hope has come up many times in different work contexts. For example, talking with clients about their hopes and dreams and what steps to take to get closer to them, discussing with leaders how hope plays an important role in good leadership and team motivation and personally to remain hopeful when situations and world events are out of our control.
The dictionary defines hope as, ‘a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen, a feeling of trust or to want something to happen or be the case.’
Hope for the best plan for the worst
It might sound soft or vague, but the truth is, hope is a serious leadership skill. It’s not blind positivity or ‘everything will be fine’ thinking. Hope, when understood properly, is about clarity, belief and action.
Hope is a future-focused mindset that combines a clear vision of what you want to achieve, a belief in your own (or your team’s) ability to get there, and the willingness to take action – even when challenges arise.
It’s not a passive emotion. It’s made up of:
- Goals – a clear destination or desired future
- Agency – belief that you can influence outcomes
- Pathways – the ability to identify and pursue different routes to get there, even if Plan A fails
This definition anchors hope in realism, action and belief – not just wishful thinking.
That means hope has more in common with strategy and growth mindset than we might initially assume. It fuels motivation, encourages flexibility, and gives leaders the perseverance to keep going – especially when things don’t go to plan.
It can be easy to confuse hope with mindless optimism. They are different.
Mindless optimism skips over the reality of a situation. It’s the ‘everything will be fine’ response, often given with the best intentions, but it can actually do more harm than good. It glosses over challenges, avoids risk and often leaves people feeling unheard or unsupported. It’s putting your head in the sand and hoping everything will be alright without necessarily taking any action.
Hope, on the other hand, acknowledges obstacles and says: we can still make progress. It doesn’t pretend everything will be easy – but it reinforces the belief that there’s a way forward, and that the team has the ability to find it.
Why hope matters in leadership
Leaders today are dealing with a lot – constant change, unpredictable markets, and increasingly complex global issues. It’s no wonder if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck or out of hope.
However, in tough times hope is even more essential. It gives leaders the mindset and tools to keep moving forward. Not in a forced, fake cheerleading way – but with resilient determination and a clear-eyed view of what’s possible.
And because leadership is emotional as well as strategic, your outlook has a ripple effect. A hopeful leader creates momentum, confidence and stability. A hopeful leader builds trust through transparency and acknowledgment of the real situation. A hopeful leader gives their team agency to solve problems.
Hopeful leadership
If you want to lead with more hope, here are three practical places to start:
- Be clear on the destination and the steps to get there
Hope thrives on clarity. Make sure you know where you’re headed and how you’ll begin. - Choose who you spend time with
Energy is contagious. Seek out people who inspire action and real candid talk, not just positivity. - Celebrate progress, not just outcomes
Recognise effort and momentum. Help your team – and yourself – build confidence from what’s already been achieved.
Hope isn’t passive. It’s active. It’s strategic. And it’s a leadership essential.
🎧 Want to go deeper?
Listen to the full episode of The Quiet Leadership Revolution ‘The power of hope: A leadership skill for uncertain times’ for a deeper dive into this topic – and why it matters now more than ever.