The Value of Cultivating Hope

It's no surprise that the biggest complaint in recent years among employees is burnout. It is the not-so-silent killer of the modern-day workforce in the U.S. Not only have there been numerous studies to support this evidence, particularly amidst the pandemic, but we at The Art of Hustle and Heart can attest to this as a solid fact. We hear it from all of our clients the first time one of our coaches meets with them. In fact, burnout is why Hustle and Heart exists. Our company was formed as a solution to burn-out, and as a response to necessary systemic change.

What is surprising is that we've found the solution to burnout to start with one foundational element that leadership teams can implement right now to create a sustainable form of human motivation.

That element, in all its simplicity, is hope.

We often underestimate the power of hope. And sometimes we ignore it completely because to many employees, hope is synonymous with promises made but never delivered. But when truly utilized, hope has the power to transform. What we have to understand is that hope is an action and not a just vision of the future.

Hope instantly creates energy and excitement that when harnessed, turns struggling companies into thriving organizations, but how do we begin to cultivate it?

Here are two principles to cultivating hope that have the power to transform:

1. Model Hope: Small and consistent actions towards a bigger goal relieve the fear of the unknown and make overwhelming goals feel less complex. We want to see our leaders acting as if success is guaranteed. Acting "as if" encourages new behaviors that provide a path for change and resuscitates belief in a bright future.
2. Treat Hope as a Renewable Resource: Hope at its core is a will to see or do things differently- and this is an infinite resource that will continue to create new possibilities and ways of thinking that energize and inspire us. It must be shared and spread rather than stored. Use it as a source of innovation and watch the odds turn in your favor.

It is important to remember that cultivating hope is an act, not a conversation. It must be felt as energy in motion and seen on a physical plane. Hope must be passed to us and through us in order for us to overcome burnout and overwhelm. It is a process of change on the path of least resistance that is powerful.

Stay tuned this week as we explore hope on a measurable level- and how you can implement it to overcome burnout and accelerate growth.