Hi B121,

I enjoyed reading your post and found the leadership lessons that you took away from Eddie V. Rickenbacker’s story valuable. The first lesson you talked about was the significance of hope in leadership. A leader who embraces hope “will inspire followers to trust the and believe in their goals” (Northouse, 2018, p. 205). I have shared your feelings of despair when faced with organizational challenges, and what I find helps re-establish my sense of hope is shifting my energy towards strengthening my relationship with the people I serve.

To be humble and pray, your second lesson, speaks to me on several levels. People ask me all the time “how can you work in Palliative Care, it must be so depressing?” To finish every work day with the feeling that I have made a difference in the lives of others and helped ease suffering, is far from depressing. I am incredibly honoured to get to be a part of someone’s journey. My work also serves as a daily reminder to be humble and grateful for life and the companionship of others.

I believe we are leaders because God has chosen us to be. I trust in God’s plan and pray every night, not just for my own sake, but for peace and love for others in my life.

Thank you for sharing B121 and providing me the opportunity for deep reflection and a concrete reminder of why I do what I do.

Daneen

Northouse, P.G. (2018).  Leadership: Theory and Practice.  (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage Publications, Inc.