Randy HainI recently spoke with a senior leader in my business network on the topic of inspiring and encouraging employees in what has been a very challenging year. As we shared observations, we were both struck by how gloomy, cynical and anxious many leaders (and their team members) in our extended networks seem to be about life, work and the coming year. This is certainly understandable in light of what we have experienced in 2020. The pandemic, politics, family stress, the economy, social isolation, work from home stress, negativity from news channels/social media and a host of other challenges is slowly wearing us down and making many of us feel more jaded.