VM Group CEO urges leaders to inspire hope

HOPE IS an essential element to success, and leaders have a responsibility to inspire it in the people they lead. This was the declaration from Courtney Campbell, president and chief executive officer of the VM Group, as he addressed members of the Rotary Club of New Kingston yesterday.

“A number of research studies have concluded that humble leaders listen more effectively, inspire great teamwork and focus everyone, including themselves on organisational goals greater than leaders who don’t score well on humility,” he said.

But he noted that even though it is the leader’s responsibility to plant seeds of hope in their team, the team members also have a personal duty to become “purveyors of hope”.

“In any organisation that aims to consistently deliver quality service, it is imperative that all members of the team become personally invested in this objective … all team members must share the vision and own the ambition,” he said.

But ultimately, it is the lender’s obligation to galvanise this effort which he said will benefit the organisation.

“When they (team members) demonstrate ownership of the organisation’s success and know that the part they play has a larger impact they engage their specific responsibilities with more commitment and more energy,” he said.

And pointing to the numerous issues affecting the world, which he said are being exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war, Campbell urged the Rotarians not to underestimate the impact of their service.

“The world needs an injection of hope. We are currently experiencing a cost of living crisis, affecting hundreds of millions around the world; with the cost of food and energy rising while wages stagnate and that’s resulting in increased poverty and social unrest,” he said.

He added that the rising cost of living disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities and low-income nations. If this continues, then Campbell forecasts the number of people facing food insecurity and famine across the globe will rise.

Meanwhile, the CEO lauded the work that the Rotary Club of New Kingston has been doing to improve the lives of Jamaicans.

This includes its annual work fair, its visits to the newborns at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital and its cardiac project in collaboration with the Chain of Hope mission, which recently provided successful cardiac catheterisation surgery to 12 children at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

“This nation is grateful for your other contributions, such as your partnership with the Jamaica Library Service to increase literacy,” he said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com