On 21st October 2025, we held the third in a series of communities of practice designed to support practitioners and academics in navigating a turbulent world and building resilience in difficult times. This month, we focused on the value of hope in tackling problems that may feel insurmountable, as well as the ways we can nurture and maintain hope in the longer term.
As in previous sessions, Natalie Cunningham, Senior Lecturer in Leadership for Development at GDI, facilitated the discussion alongside Louisa Hann, Research Communications Officer. Natalie started the session by discussing the meaning of hope and sharing academic literature on the topic.
Building on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s assertion that “We judge of a man’s wisdom by his hope”, Natalie cited the work of organisational theorist Richard Boyatzis to explain the incentivising value of hope. Hope, as Boyatzis explains in his recent book, The Science of Change, is a positive expectation of a valued or desired future, enabling people to dream of a life that is possible. In so doing, hope imparts a sense of agency and self-efficacy that encourages them to take on difficult tasks.
Of course, dreaming of the future isn’t enough to transform our goals into reality. Natalie also cited the work of psychologist Charles Snyder, who underlined the need to conceptualise several pathways to reach a given goal. Without a solid plan that accounts for various risks and obstacles, we may feel stuck in a rut and start to lose hope. Similarly, ungrounded and exaggerated optimism can be counterproductive, obscuring the problems that demand we take urgent and courageous action. In so doing, it can block our paths to success and eventually destroy the original hopeful feelings.
How do other people affect our ability to hope?
Natalie referenced Boyatzis’ work on the importance of external support and validation when it comes to maintaining hope. A significant barrier to hope is a notion known as the “ought self” – the kind of person that society tells us to embody, rather than the person we truly wish to become. As Natalie explained, influential people in our lives – such as parents and teachers – often shape our views of how we ought to live and progress.
While their advice and support may come from a well-meaning place, such figures can become “helpful bullies”, obliging us to conform to certain norms or expectations. Hope can help us overcome this problem and often comes from within – a recognition of our agency to subvert expectations or break away from established narratives.
Drawing hope from past experiences
Following the introductory part of the session, participants broke into small groups to discuss moments in their lives that felt especially happy or hopeful. After discussing these moments for a few minutes, participants were asked to describe how their peers seemed to feel and react while telling their stories. Many noted how happy and excited other participants seemed while recalling positive events, reflecting a lift in mood and self-esteem.
After discussing the emotions evoked during the exercise, Natalie revealed her reasons for asking participants to engage in such storytelling. Drawing on the field of ‘interpersonal neurobiology’ – an interdisciplinary field pioneered by psychiatry expert Daniel Siegel – she explained how remembering and sharing positive events can strengthen our sense of agency and self-efficacy. As well as reminding us of our strengths and lightening our emotional load, this simple exercise can nurture a sense of collective optimism that builds hope in the long term. In this way, it’s a valuable tool individual practitioners and teams can use to harness positive energy and push forward in difficult circumstances.
Social connection as a driver of hope
While the aforementioned exercise may sound simple, it’s a powerful tool that underlines the role of social connection in building hope. Many participants shared stories of hope that emphasised this social aspect, from instances of people spreading positive messages via social media to communities supporting each other through hardship, often embracing spirituality or religion to connect with others. Indeed, one cannot maintain hope in isolation, and there’s never been a more vital moment to share positive messages and support one another through turbulent times.
Join our next communities of practice
In our next communities of practice, we’ll continue our discussion on the importance of connecting with others with sessions entitled ‘Belonging and connection: The role of social cohesion in community resilience’. On Tuesday, 25th November, we will host two sessions at 8am and 2pm UK time to accommodate participants across a variety of time zones. Please sign up below and feel free to spread the word with anyone who may be interested in joining us!
Top image by Aaron Burden.