DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

Hope isn’t some naive desire or idle fantasy. It’s an active, dynamic force that fuels persistence, creativity, and recovery—especially in the face of adversity. In times of uncertainty or change, hope becomes a guiding light, enabling individuals and teams to:

1. Stay grounded in values while looking ahead
2. Reframe challenges as temporary and solvable
3. Sustain effort even when results are delayed
4. Inspire others by casting a meaningful vision

Let’s e explore how hope operates, why it matters, and how to actively foster it in yourself, your teams, and your organization.

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1. Defining hope: More than blind optimism

Psychologist Charles Snyder, a leading researcher on hope, described it as the combination of two components:

• Agency thinking: Belief in one’s own capacity to make things happen.
• Pathways thinking: The ability to identify and navigate routes to goals—even when setbacks emerge.

In other words, hope isn’t passive—it requires proactive planning and self-belief. Contrast that with blind optimism, which might predict success without any plan to achieve it. Hope, instead, plants us firmly in the driver’s seat, clarifying what we want and how to get there.

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2. Grounding in values while seeing the future

When pressure mounts or uncertainty bites, it’s easy to feel unmoored. That’s why one of hope’s essential roles is to anchor us in our deepest convictions while pointing toward what lies ahead.

Why Values Anchor Us

• Stability in shifting contexts: Values like integrity, care, or accountability remain constant even when external conditions fluctuate.
• Measure against what matters: Values serve as a compass—informing choices when the path ahead is blurry.

Bringing Values into the Future

Hope helps us connect present values with future possibilities:

• “We’re committed to environmental stewardship—that means our future steps must reflect sustainable choices, even when tough.”
• “Safety is non-negotiable. Even when production slows, we’ll invest in secure processes and trusted methodologies.”

By reframing goals through values, hope helps teams retain emotional integrity while adapting to change.

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3. Reframing challenges as temporary and solvable

One of hope’s greatest powers is shifting the narrative from overwhelm to “we can navigate this.”

First: Recognize the temporary nature of difficulty

Teams and individuals often get stuck in a permanent mindset:

• “We always do layoffs in Q2.”
• “Customers just hate change.”

Hope contests that belief with a different lens:

• “This product launch hit a snag, but we’ve solved similar issues before.”
• “Customers are resistant at first—how can we support them into adoption?”

By recognizing that obstacles are not destiny, hope keeps energy focused and optimism intact.

Second: Equip the toolbox (pathways thinking)

If adversity is temporary, that means there’s a path forward. Hope inspires us to seek alternatives:

• “We need a backup plan—what if vendor X isn’t available?”
• “Let’s gather small wins—pilot with 2 clients rather than 10, see what we learn.”

Those pathways may evolve, but knowing they exist is what sustains hope and action.

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4. Sustaining effort when outcomes lag

Hope is what keeps the flame alive between the first spark and the final flame. It says, “Keep going—even when you can’t see immediate results.”

Why Persistence Matters

• Complex goals take time: Organizational change, market shifts, and behavioral transformation aren’t instant.
• Motivation gaps appear: Without psychological fuel, even resilient people can burn out.
• Momentum matters: Small progress builds motivation; stagnation kills it.

Hope’s Role in Sustaining Action

Hope sustains action by:

1. Connecting daily effort to long-term purpose: “This report feels tedious, but it’s foundational for our Q3 growth goal.”
2. Celebrating micro-milestones: “We hit 5% adoption—on track for 20% by next quarter.”
3. Maintaining agency: “We’ve shifted three designs already—so we’re learning fast.”

Hope flushes out the future benefit of today’s effort—and that keeps people grounded, motivated, and mentally resilient.

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5. Inspiring others by casting a meaningful vision

Hope is contagious. When a leader expresses authentic belief in a shared future, it rallies others to join in.

Is the vision inspiring?

• It’s anchored in shared values (“This isn’t just revenue—it’s making solar affordable for families.”)
• It’s believable (Pathways were shared—“Here’s how we’ll do it.”)
• It’s inclusive (“We’ll get there together.”)

Stories are the vehicle for hope

• Past success stories (“We did this once before in X. We can do it again.”)
• Future-framed narratives (“Imagine a partner we empowered. That’s where we’re headed.”)
• Empathy and connection (“I see how hard this is. I’m with you.”)

These stories do more than paint a vision—they embody hope, making it a lived experience.

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6. The scientific ROI of hope

Research shows hope isn’t just a feel-good concept—it has concrete returns:

• In performance and goal setting: Individuals with high hope set and achieved 33% more goals and reported more meaningful, productive lives.
• In mental health: Hope predicts lower anxiety and depression levels. A hopeful mindset helps people rebound from failure with resilience.
• In organizational success: Teams with higher collective hope reported higher innovation, cohesion, and performance outcomes.

Investing in hope-building practices can drive engagement (+20%), retention, creativity, and well-being across teams.

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7. How to cultivate hope: Practical steps

a. Model Hope as a Leader

• Admit uncertainty (“We don’t have all the answers yet.”)
• Praise effort and resilience (“I’m proud of how you adapted.”)
• Connect today’s effort with a bigger purpose

b. Structure for Small Wins

• Use step-based plans (Plan A, Plan B…)
• Highlight progress publicly
• Frame setbacks as data, not failures

c. Encourage Agency

• Ask: “What options do we have?”
• If a plan fails, ask: “What’s our next move?”
• Provide autonomy and flexibility in problem-solving

d. Teach Reframing

Practice language shifts:

• “That’s a fail” → “That’s feedback.”
• “We can’t do this” → “What if we could?”

e. Stay Connected to Values

Review core values and mission regularly—through meetings, symbols, and team conversation.

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8. Case studies in hope

Startup Pivot During Crisis

A technology startup hit with a revenue downturn. Instead of slashing further:

• Leadership convened the team to reframe the problem.
• They ideated quickly and used customer interviews to pilot a new service.
• Within months, the pivot generated new revenue and renewed investor confidence.

Curiosity, agency, and hope drove the effort—and delivered results.

School Reform & Teacher Retention

A struggling school faced burnout and poor student performance. Leadership:

• Shared a bold re-enrollment goal.
• Broke it down: weekly wins, classroom improvements, student success stories.
• Celebrated every milestone, built a feedback loop, and recommitment rose by 40%.

A shared sense of possibility changed the school’s classroom climate and community perception.

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9. Hope as discipline, not luck

Hope isn’t magical—it’s a set of mental muscles and cultural practices. It grows through:

• Conscious language and framing
• Structured planning (pathways) and empowering autonomy (agency)
• Small victories and cultural reinforcement
• Embodied leadership

The result? A team that adapts, persists, learns, and innovates.

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10. More than positivity: Hope is practical

Don’t mistake hope for “positive thinking” alone. True hope:

• Acknowledges the full reality—including obstacles
• Works within constraints while escalating possibility
• Requires courage, not denial
• Balances emotional realism with forward movement

In this sense, hope is a disciplined art and science rolled into one.

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Choose hope as strategy

In adversity, hope isn’t fluffy—it’s a strategy:

• It sustains perseverance when results lag
• It enables innovation when past formulas fail
• It fosters resilience in teams and institutions
• It aligns daily purpose with long-term vision

Leaders and teams that embrace hope assert: Our future is not subject to failing conditions—it’s shaped by our choices, efforts, and imagination. That is the power of agency thinking guided by purposeful pathways.

So ask yourself:

• What small step can we take today that keeps us moving forward?
• How can we frame this setback as a lesson rather than a verdict?
• What story of our future do we want to start telling now?

You’re not waiting for hope to find you. You’re making it with intention, action, and courage. And in doing so, you build something truly powerful—a future that belongs to the hopeful.