4 lessons to ‘lead with hope’ during a crisis
Australian icon, Tim Costello joined me on my Podcast recently. Tim has been influential leader in our great country for decades and is well versed in crisis leadership through his work with World Vision. Therefore, I was curious to understand how exceptional leaders would be navigating the COVID-19 crisis. He answered,
“Leaders who have kept hope alive are navigating COVID best for their people.”
Now hope is a curious thing. The word ‘hope’ may generate a sense of dreamlike nothingness or maybe represent a deflective buzz word for leaders who lack true vision. However, in the context of the podcast as well as Tim’s Christian convictions hope is the faithful declaration that goodness, purpose and flourishing will win over lockdowns, stress and depression.
Great leaders provide others with life-giving hope. Following is four lessons to help you generate hope in your life, your home, your business, and your church.
1. Cultivating hope is harder than spreading fear
If you desire to ‘lead with hope’ then be prepared to do hard work. Great leaders work hard because they respect their position and understand that followers rely on them communicating with clarity. Cultivation, like gardening requires tilling information, getting to the root of problems, and proving clarity on that which will flourish and what which needs pruning. Fear is our natural response to crisis, its highly contagious!
Process fear privately while leading publicly with clarity that allows hope to flourish.
2. Intentionally chose the tone of your words and actions
During our Podcast conversation Tim provided another mind-blowing leadership lesson, "Catastrophising is the wrong tone during COVID or any crisis." Like spreading fear, catastrophising comes naturally to us all. We tend to exaggerate as a coping strategy and even when not explicit a catastrophizing tone will only multiply the crisis in the hearts and minds of those we lead.
Consider the tone of what you say and do in crisis. Intentionally chose hope-filled words and act in a way that multiplies hope.
3. Express certainty about what you know not about what you don’t know
Attempting to provide certainty about what you don’t know (i.e. when lockdowns will end, who should get vaccinated, is the government correct or not) will only lead to further confusion and unrest. Authenticity is critical during times of crisis. Therefore, be honest about what you don’t know and focus your energy on what you do know.
Principles transcend time and circumstance, they bring hope because they work every time! Focus your energy on principles such as God is good, serving others, honesty, empathy.
4. Disapproval is guaranteed from both sides of the spectrum
Leadership is about choosing a direction and then navigating a whole lot of disagreement with that direction. You are a leader because you love a challenge, and you would rather act than complain. Many don’t lead because they would rather complain than act, so don’t be surprised when you engender pushback. Disapproval is inevitable and it will come from both sides of the spectrum. Hence the saying, “Dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t.” During the COVID crisis everyone is wrong! Lockdowns are both tyrannical oppression and the best solution every! Vaccinations are both a rational path and a conspiracy underwritten by a one world government.
Focus on achieving the mission, which is a hopeful vision, not on keeping people happy throughout the journey.
What a leader might do…
A leader might select one of the four lessons above and dedicate time to thinking, praying and discussing it in order to refine their leadership skills in the area.
Enjoy Growing and Deepening!
Caleb