.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
The Optimism Gap Is a Leadership Call
“We see that there’s a terrible loss of optimism. Only 15 percent of respondents in developed countries believe their families will be better off in the next generation,” said Richard Edelman in launching the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer.
It is a sobering insight, and the data behind it is clear.
This year’s global trust survey reveals what Edelman calls a “hope deficit.” While optimism is strong in emerging markets, it is fading rapidly in developed countries.
The contrast is stark:
-
Only 15 per cent in developed nations believe the next generation will be better off.
-
In emerging economies, that number soars to 76 per cent.
This is not a passing moment. It reflects a deeper global trend Edelman’s team describes as “The Retreat into Insularity.”
The report outlines a troubling cycle:
-
Polarisation that hardens division.
-
Grievance that fuels resentment.
-
Insularity and a closing of hearts and minds to those who differ.
Add to that anxiety about rising living costs, media-driven misinformation, and eroding trust in institutions, and you begin to see the scale of the challenge.
Richard Edelman believes people still trust business and expect business to lead.
Richard’s call to leaders is simple and urgent:
-
Be visible.
-
Deliver measurable progress.
-
Create hope through meaningful action, not just words.
That resonates deeply with me. In every room I walk into, from boardrooms to classrooms, local councils to leadership retreats, I see it. The hunger for optimism and infectiously optimistic leaders with a clear vision.
Gallup’s global research confirms it: people are yearning for leaders who offer infectious optimism and a clear vision of what comes next. Not false cheer. Real optimism. Grounded in reality, anchored in possibility.
We are hearing the same message across the world.
-
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 listed declining optimism as its first key finding.
-
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has spoken about the urgent need to “create the bases for optimism.”
-
I have shared the words of Penny Mordaunt, who reminds us that the true dividing line in politics today is not left versus right it is optimists versus pessimists.
-
Michael Franti put it plainly: “The great battle in the world is between cynicism and optimism.”
These are not just wise reflections. They are reminders.
Optimism is not soft. It is a strategic advantage.
Optimism fuels innovation. It builds resilience. It sustains trust. It unlocks creativity, connection, and courage. And, yes, optimism leads to performance, wellbeing, and growth whether in a company, a community, or a country.
Optimism is not naïve. It is courageous. It is the decision to lead with hope, clarity, and purpose even when the path is uncertain.
So what can we do?
Start with what is simple.
Smile and say hello. Let your presence radiate warmth.
Replace “How are you?” with a joyful invitation like, “What’s been the best thing in your day?”
Visualise your best self and lead from that vision.
Ask your people, “What makes you optimistic?” It opens hearts and minds.
Surround yourself with optimists; optimism is contagious.
Practise gratitude. Celebrate what is going well.
Recognise and elevate the optimists in your team.
These habits are simple. Yet they are powerful. They create resilient, high-performing, trust-filled cultures. And they all begin with the leader, the person looking back at you in the mirror.
The future will be shaped not just by data and reports, but by belief, connection, and leadership rooted in optimism.
What would a more optimistic society look like, and what role can you play in building it?
.png)
.png)
.png)
Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism
We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world
.svg)
.svg)
