Movement Monday: Greater Leaders Inspire Hope

View From Hospital Doors

Great leaders inspire hope for a better day, for the future. They effectively paint a clear picture of this future, and have you believing it’s possible. They have you excited and working toward its realization. 

Leadership In Times of Crisis

Jack Beach, a former IBM colleague of mine, once said, “It’s easy to be a leader in good times. There is not much you can really screw up. You just ride the waves and allow things to happen. True leadership is called for, and revealed, in times of crisis.”

Scrolling through Recent History

I had a couple of moments today reflecting on the times we are living in and all that’s happened this year while I was scrolling through photos on my phone. I came upon these two photos taken two and half months apart in 2012. One was September 30th, and the second was December 15th. 

Two Photos, Two Different Outcomes

In the first, I just left the hospital where a loved one was taken unexpectedly. This double rainbow gave me hope they would be okay. And they were. They were a senior, living a full life, and they were granted more time before passing earlier this year amid COVID.

The second photo was taken the day after the Sandy Hook shooting where 28 people were killed, including 20 children, 6 teachers, the shooter and his mother. I live 10 minutes from the site. The next day my daughter and I went to the scene, which was swarmed by the media. I was struck by how many signs of hope were already up in shop windows and on the street.

Healing and Forever Changed

How quickly life can change – for the better or worse. Today is the eighth anniversary of Sandy Hook and the community has pulled together – resilient and forever changed. Healing, but many are still working through trauma and grief of that day.

Streets of Sandy Hook

Looking Forward

I write this as we await the outcome of the electoral college declaring our next President of the United States. We live in unprecedented times in terms of magnitude of concurrent global crises, and having incredible technology and resources at our disposal to help solve our most complex problems. People are in need of hope and optimism – that times will get better. 

Reunification Lies with Us

We know this country is divided but I have hope that the optimism, dedication, hard work and spirit of the American people can get us through to a better day. My feeling is, we need to believe this, even if we are struggling with it at times. The alternative is not an option. Regardless of who is in office, or who you voted for, the possibility for reunification of the States lies with each of us. 

Great leaders inspire hope. Where/how can you inspire hope for a better day, in your sphere of influence…even though the challenges, crises, heartaches still exist? A rainbow is caused by sunlight and atmospheric conditions. Where can you bring in the light and set up the most positive tone in your environment, as a leader at home or at work?

Action

What is one thing you say or do today that holds the world of possibility as a viable option? Where can you inspire hope?