Workplace Campaign
Employees with higher hope have increased health, happiness, efficiency, and success
Hope accounts for 14 percent of productivity in the workplace — more than intelligence, optimism, or self- efficacy (Journal of Positive Psychology, 2013). Hope is a top need of employees, and it predicts success at work. Yet it is a skill that must be thought, practiced and reinforced.
Hope is associated with setting and achieving goals, as well as being more likely to take action in tough situations, making it is a natural fit for workplace training. It also helps employees to see how the work they are doing is meaningful, which in turn can improve happiness and well-being. All of these components create a more successful workplace.
Hopelessness, the primary symptom of depression and a key symptom of anxiety, is one of the greatest costs to employers. You can use the One Mind at Work calculator to see specific costs to your workplace:
Activating hope in your workplace is a proactive approach to mental health. We’ve created posters, designed a Five Day Global Hope Challenge, invited leaders to share their stories of hope, and shared available resources in the workplace for people to seek support. iFred’s Founder Kathryn Goetzke consults with workplaces on hope, so feel free to reach out if you want to add programs beyond what we have described below.
Measure Hope
We suggest you measure employees’ hope, to get a pulse for how your employees feel. The more hopeful your employees, the less likely they are to experience anxiety and depression, so measuring it company-wide is a good marker for overall mental health. While there are many scales for hope, we use the Snyder Hope Scales, as they have been utilized for many studies on work performance, health, athleticism, and more.
The International Day of Hope is the first Monday in May. Just as your city can declare an International Day of Hope followed by a week of hope activation, you can do the same in the workplace. Celebrate the International Day of Hope by staging events that encourage everyone to share their journey with hope and their own strategies for managing hopelessness. Throughout the week, everyone can learn more about the Science of Hope, the importance of hope skills, and can celebrate the benefits that hope can have.
To learn more, visit International Day of Hope, and start implementing the International Day of Hope in your workplace by downloading the event posters below.
Participate in the Workplace Five Day Global Hope Challenge
The Five Day Global Hope Challenge was designed with workplaces in mind. It is available in several formats to make it easy for your team to participate in whatever way works best for you:
You can share each day of the challenge with your employees via email with the use of our free email templates. Download our customizable templates here:
You can share each day of the challenge on your company social media channels to educate about the Science of Hope and showcase your commitment to mental health. You can download the Five Day Global Hope Challenge social media toolkits here:
For more information about the Five Day Global Hope Challenge, visiting this page.
The Five Keys to SHINE Hope™ Posters
The Five Keys to SHINE Hope™ highlight skills that are critical for maintaining a sense of hope, no matter what challenges are ahead. The Five Keys to SHINE Hope posters highlight these hope skills, provide resources, and offer daily reminders to be proactive about hope.
Consider hanging the posters around your workplace to reinforce the Five Keys to SHINE Hope with your employees.
Kathryn Goetzke or a member of her team can come to your workplace to present on hope and help activate the Five Keys to SHINE Hope with your employees.
We are happy to help you find the best way to use the Science of Hope and the Hopeful Cities Playbook resources to encourage your employees to create, maintain, and grow hope in their lives. To schedule a presentation or consultation, email info@ifred.org today.
