July 27, 2026
If someone asked us to name the greatest leadership qualities, we might think of vision, wisdom, communication, or integrity. Those are all important. Yet I believe that after love, hope is the most influential leadership quality we can possess.
Hope means “the confident, joyful expectation that good is coming.” Hope is far more than optimism. It is a rooted conviction that enables us to see beyond present circumstances into what could be.
I've often said, "He who has the most hope has the most influence." The longer I lead, the more convinced I become that this is true. Why? Because it is difficult to influence that which we do not have hope for.
When we lose hope, our influence begins to diminish. We may continue doing the outward work of leadership, but something powerful has leaked from our hearts.
Hope carries faith, expectancy, creativity, energy, perseverance, and love. When hope increases, influence increases. That belief shapes the way we lead, and people are deeply affected by what those who lead them truly believe.
Hope-filled leaders don't ignore weakness. They simply refuse to define people or situations by it. We all encounter delays, disappointments, and resistance. The question is not whether those things exist, but the question is what we believe they mean.
Hope-filled leaders interpret life above the noise, knowing that if my hope level drops, my influence begins to shrink. If my hope increases, my capacity to strengthen others increases as well.
Every conversation gives us an opportunity to leave people more hopeful than when they arrived. Every meeting gives us an opportunity to strengthen faith instead of fear. Every challenge becomes another opportunity to replace discouragement with the confident, joyful expectation that good is coming.
Consider asking this question, "Where have I quietly lost hope?"
As our hope grows, our influence grows. Because after love, hope is the most powerful leadership gift we have to give.
Intentionally Own It!
What growth does this week's message invite me to embrace?
Who am I becoming as I embrace it?
Adapted from Steve Backlund