Optimism, Hope, and Belief

Every leadership role has its challenges and can sometimes feel overwhelming. Yet our organizations deserve a leader who believes. I have been having many fruitful and provocative conversations of late about what leaders need to succeed and certain words seem to pop up again and again--words like optimism, hope, and belief (or faith).

Optimism, hope, and belief are all positive and even similar, but they are not synonyms.

Optimism is a general expectation that good things will happen, regardless of the specifics. It's a sunny disposition that assumes the future holds positive outcomes. It is a mindset. It is the general idea that everything is going to be okay. Hope is something more than that. It is a belief that we have some agency in things being better. “I hope we win the game tomorrow” assumes we can play a part in achieving the desired outcome.  Proof that they are not synonyms can be seen when we put them together. A pessimist can still hope things will be better even when they think it unlikely; an optimist can believe there is little they can do but think things will be okay somehow in the end.

I love this statement from the research of Gene M. Alarcon, Nathan A. Bowling, and Steven Khazon:

Simply put, the optimistic person believes that somehow—either through luck, the actions of others, or one’s own actions—that his or her future will be successful and fulfilling. The hopeful person, on the other hand, believes specifically in his or her own capability for securing a successful and fulfilling future.

Or another way to think about optimism and hope is to look at their opposites: pessimism, and hopelessness. One can be a pessimist and still get by, but what of someone who is hopeless? While neither is desirable, would you rather work for a leader that is pessimistic or hopeless? Hopelessness is often cited as a reason for anxiety, depression, and a host of other negatives. Pessimism is undesirable but less fatal.

So what of faith, or belief?  When I say “faith” or “belief” in this context, I am not referring to religion, but rather, belief in yourself.  Belief in yourself is about your own capabilities. It's the conviction that you have the skills and talents to achieve your goals. It's not just wishing or even hoping for success. It's trusting in your ability to make it happen and, based upon your prior efforts and experiences, believing it so. Think of it as believing you have the tools and determination to navigate any challenge. Financial advisors often warn that “past performance is not indicative of future results.” In leadership, past performance DOES warrant faith in future results. This is why we write, why we build a strong core—to steel us for challenges and to remember that we prevailed in prior trials.

In leadership, past performance DOES warrant faith in future results.

Leaders are believers. And they have enough belief for not only themselves, but for their entire organization. Yet leaders must also realize that blind optimism is not as convincing when times are hard. Further, we've all heard "Hope is not a strategy" and this is true, but hopelessness is not an option. Belief in the leader and team we have built is key. In the end, these forces work together. Optimism fuels a positive outlook. When you expect positive outcomes, you're more likely to see challenges as opportunities and believe you can overcome them. Likewise, believing in yourself makes you more hopeful and optimistic. If you trust your abilities, you're more likely to expect success and tackle new things with a positive attitude—and be more hopeful. And that belief powers your entire organization to new heights.

Ultimately, optimism, hope, and belief are key to overcoming life's challenges and to taking your organization where you want to go. Collectively, they are fuel for the transformative journey.

You got this.