I heard an interesting fact about a school in Chicago, Illinois that gave students a “not yet” if they didn’t pass a class, instead of a “fail.” This had a tremendous impact on the moral of the students who received the hard, yet encouraging truth that they had, “not yet,” completed the course. As a result, students we’re more likely to pass the next time around at a faster rate. When hope diminishes from a person’s belief, they tend to give up in their pursuit. However, when hope is affirmed within them, they begin to rise up with greater tenacity to the challenges facing them.

Leaders have the responsibility to install hope and a “keep on keeping’ on” mindset in their team. They must be the ones who display a can do attitude. They also have to keep people accountable to live out a “can do” attitude. Everyone gets discouraged and down at times along the journey of life and work. We all need to be surrounded by people that cheer us on and help us stay the course when the going gets tough. If you don’t have these kind of people around you, you are dangerously flying solo on your journey. Not only do we need people around us as leaders, but we must also become that person for others. We need to be our team’s cheerleaders, motivators, and biggest fan! The more we truly believe in our team, the more they will be inspired to accomplish.

I have met many leaders that because of their selfish, uninterested, and extremely independent personalities do not believe it is their role to inspire others. In fact, they figure if their team can’t get it together on their own, there is something wrong with them. Though your team needs to have some self motivation within themselves, they also need a strong leader who can lead them to victory. Too many teams are lone wolves out there on their own emotionally abandoned by their leader. They become lost in a wasteland of confusion because their leader is M.I.A.

Whoever you may be leading, make sure you are there for them. Be invested in their growth and potential. When you are spurring your team on they will be much more willing to do more! Make it a point to be the kind of leader who is cheering your team to victory everyday.