There’s a lot of chatter in leadership circles about engagement strategies, performance optimization, & how to create a thriving workplace culture. But what if I told you that the single most important thing your team needs from you isn’t another strategy, policy, or initiative?
It’s hope.
That’s right, hope is the No. 1 thing your team craves from you as a leader. And I don’t mean hope in a vague, wish-upon-a-star kind of way. I’m talking about a tangible, actionable force that shapes how people show up, contribute, & commit to their work.
The Science Behind Hope as a Leadership Strategy
Gallup’s latest Global Leadership Report surveyed 30,000 people across 52 countries. The goal? To uncover what people value most in the leaders who positively impact their daily lives.
The results were FASCINATING. When asked to describe what these leaders contribute, the top four responses were:
- Hope
- Trust
- Compassion
- Stability
Hope wasn’t just at the top of the list, though. It absolutely dominated. Every region, every country, every demographic ranked hope as the most important leadership trait. And for younger employees (ages 18-29), this need was even stronger (a trend that has held steady since 2008).
Why Hope Matters Now More Than Ever
We live in a time of rapid change, uncertainty, & disruption. Whether it’s economic shifts, technological advancements, or industry shake-ups, the workplace can feel like a constantly shifting landscape. When people don’t know what’s coming next, stress & disengagement skyrocket.
That’s why hope isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a MUST-have. Without it, no amount of strategy or leadership development will stick. When people lack hope, they disengage, hesitate, & lose sight of the bigger picture. On the flip side, when leaders actively cultivate hope, teams become more innovative, resilient, & committed. They also, dare I say it, have more fun.
How to Create Hope on Your Team
The good news? Hope isn’t an abstract concept. It can be intentionally built & nurtured through your daily actions. At The Perk, we’ve identified five key drivers that consistently fuel hope in the workplace:
Vision Creates Hope – People need to see where they’re going & understand why it matters. A clear, compelling vision gives them something to rally around.
Progress Creates Hope – Feeling stuck kills motivation. Helping your team recognize progress, both big wins & small steps forward, keeps hope alive.
Mindset Creates Hope – The way we think about circumstances outside of our immediate control directly impacts what we believe is possible. Having a mindset of “this is impossible” vs. “I see obstacles as opportunities to learn & grow” has a massive impact on the hope felt on a team.
Community Creates Hope – Hope thrives in connection. When people feel supported &surrounded by others who believe in their potential, they become more hopeful about the future.
Innovation Creates Hope – The ability to imagine new possibilities & bring them to life fuels hope. Encouraging creative thinking & experimentation strengthens this mindset.
Five Simple Ways to Lead With Hope Every Day
Want to put this into action? Here are five easy ways to embed hope into your daily leadership system & style:
Start Meetings With Confetti – Before diving into challenges, have everyone share a recent success (throw that confetti!). This simple ritual shifts energy & reminds people that forward progress is happening.
Ask Hope-Generating Questions – Instead of focusing on problems, ask: “What possibilities do you see here?” or “What should we try next?” These questions reframe challenges as opportunities.
Connect Daily Work to the Bigger Picture – Regularly remind your team how their efforts contribute to the broader mission. When people see the meaning in their work, hope flourishes.
Model Resilience – When setbacks happen (because they will), show your team how to respond productively. Share your thought process: “Here’s what I’m learning from this” or “Here’s how I’m thinking about moving forward.”
Create Space for Blue-Sky Thinking – Dedicate time for brainstorming where constraints are temporarily set aside. Encouraging expansive thinking makes hope a habit.
The Leadership Opportunity in Front of You
Gallup puts it perfectly: “If a leader does not create a sense of hope & help people see the way forward, chances are no one else will either.”
This is your moment. Hope isn’t passive, but rather it’s a force that drives innovation, engagement, & resilience. And the best part? It’s something you can cultivate every day, in every interaction.
So, how will you create hope for your team today?
About the Author, Leah Roe:
Leah Roe, Founder of The Perk, a premier Leadership & Culture Development studio, is dedicated to building the world’s best leaders & teams. A CPA-turned leadership coach & culture consultant, Leah excels at simplifying complex topics like trust, culture, communication, & resilience. She equips leaders with actionable strategies to create the culture they aspire to & become the leaders they want to be. Leah empowers you with the belief that anything is possible, making you feel unstoppable, while infusing fun, celebration, & a human touch into her work.
About CultureCon®:
CultureCon®, a Certified B Corporation®, is on a mission to inspire positive change around organizational culture. Through large conferences, online courses, consulting services, and certification programs, we deliver experiences that provide practical tools and motivation for our customers to become cultural change agents within their organizations. Our customers include business owners, CxOs, HR leaders, senior management, individual contributors, and anyone who wants to build more uplifting, inspiring, and healthy workplaces.
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