On Your Way to a World of Possibilities

If you've been bogged down in divisive and unproductive debates, just imagine what it would be like if your team members' philosophy was "We can do this together." Consider what could be accomplished if your group concluded, "Even if we don't have the solution right now, we'll find what works for us and serves everybody's needs." Think about what could happen if your coworkers or the members of your community had energy and resilience and were willing to listen to one another with patience and respect, if they were not only open to new ideas and opportunities, but also excited by them. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be part of an organization or community that works that way?

It is possible for teams to solve tough issues together and get great results. By using the easy approach that follows, your team can do it, too.

BE AN AGENT OF HOPE

While many people manage their teams with fear and by following personal agendas, you can choose to pursue hopes and discover opportunities for more positive, beneficial outcomes. I call people who pursue outstanding results in this way agents of hope. These leaders tap the positive spirit within them and their team, rather than their own narrow expectations, to guide their work and their lives. They are not wishful thinkers. Rather, they are doers focused upon understanding the deepest aspirations within a group and acting to realize them.

The ten steps and the six strategies in this book will help you become an agent of hope. There is a "Be an Agent of Hope" box at the end of Part 1 and at the end of each of the steps and strategies. The epilogue, "Be an Agent of Hope in a Fearful World" pulls these themes together and underscores how they enhance results.