Wellness, Hope & Leadership

As I struggled with some major health issues last year, I noticed an interesting phenomenon.

The first question people often asked me was “How are you doing?” It amazed me that my answer back tended to be, “I’m well.”

That’s interesting. I dealt with health issues that affect less than one percent of the patients in my situation. I was not physically well. And yet, when I said, “I’m well.” I actually meant it. Why?

As I analyzed this it became clear to me that my wellness statement was related to my hope, not to my physical well being.

Did I have hope that my future would be better?
Did I have hope that the present pain and suffering would pay off in a healthier future?
If the hope of a better future was there, then I could honestly answer, “I am well” when people asked how I was doing.

Providing Hope

Our business environments seem to spend almost equal time being sick and being healthy. There are times when our strategy is working, the customers are responding, margins are good, life is good, but it never lasts. We also go through times of radical market shifts, take-over bids, collapsed market place and other disruptions that leave our workplaces very ill. People are stressed and overworked. Stress brings out the micro-manager in us. There are conflicts and blame games. It’s just not a healthy environment. But when asked, “How are you doing?” can you or your people honestly answer, “I’m well?”

The answer is “yes” if you and your people have hope for the future.

I’m not talking about blind faith. That is not hope. Hope has a confidence that we’re on the right track, we have a good strategy, and our hard work can turn this thing aground. It’s not blind faith and it’s not complete confidence. It’s believing we are doing the right things to get to a better future.

Leaders MUST Provide Hope

We must provide our people with this kind of hope, especially through difficult times. With this hope, people will say they are well in spite of the stress and hard work.

Leaders CAN Provide Hope

We can provide this kind of hope as leaders if we’re transparent and realistic. If we’re open about our views, our fears, and our need to work through this thing together. When team members feel engaged, when they believe they’re getting the total unvarnished story. When they can also express their creative ideas as well as their fears, they also feel more in control.
Giving people a clear hope for the future, will keep them “Well!”