"Hope is the foundation of change."

A thought by John C. Maxwell, from her book, Leading in Tough Times (p. 11). Center Street, Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Having hope is so powerful.

John says, "John W. Gardner, former secretary of health, education, and welfare, said, 'The first and last task of a leader is to keep hope alive—the hope that we can finally find our way through to a better world—despite the day’s action, despite our own inertness and shallowness and wavering resolve.' Hope is the foundation of change. If we continue to hold hope high, and we help others to do the same, there is always a chance to move forward and succeed."

He goes on, "Productive organizations led by strong leaders are hard to beat. Their effectiveness is high, and so is their morale. Former general George C. Marshall said, 'Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty.… It is staying power, the spirit which endures to the end—the will to win. With it all things are possible, without it everything else… is for naught.' "

John continues, "Crisis holds the opportunity to be reborn. Difficult times can discipline us to become stronger. Conflict can actually renew our chances of building better relationships. It’s not always easy to remember these things. As leaders, our job is to remind people of the possibilities and to help them succeed."

He then says, "Many people in leadership positions try to solve problems by using systems. Or they pay others to try to solve problems for them. But the truth is, leaders cannot delegate the solving of problems to someone else. They have to be active in facing challenges, breaking through obstacles, putting out fires, correcting mistakes, and directing people. And once their effectiveness becomes contagious and spreads throughout the team, productivity begins to solve many problems—many more than management or consultants ever will."

He who is responsible holds the key for hope, don't they? Yes, yes! #continuethought

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Just Continue That Thought...

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