We are thrilled to have collaborated with Chris Johnstone, co-author with Joanna Macy of the book Active Hope, to create a new topic: “Active Hope for Employee Resilience”.
This CoachingOurselves topic addresses the unique challenges of our times, recognizing the intersection of eco-anxiety, resilience, and workplace behaviour. It focuses on individual resilience, tapping into our deepest hopes, to liberate energy for individual and collective action. This is an important opportunity for organizations to connect employees to positively impact morale and engagement. When employees can contribute to a better future through their work, pride in their contributions and organization increases.
The compounding evidence of human-caused climate change creates a variety of emotions from apathy to climate anxiety to eco-grief. The mental health burden is an important consideration for business and employers and there are significant costs associated with it. Given the challenges organizations face: from the Great Resignation, “Quiet Quitting”, and heightened awareness from Gen Z around moral and ethical issues, can organizations really afford not to look at the impacts of eco-anxiety in the workplace? In the U.K. alone, organizations are losing up to £45 bn annually due to poor mental health in the workforce.
At the heart of Active Hope is the acknowledgement that many of us wish to contribute to positive change but feel stuck. The topic promotes a delicate balance between recognizing the gravity of current issues while cultivating a hopeful, action-oriented mindset. Simple practices build motivation and inner capacity, improving our ability to face complex challenges, understand our unique contribution, and better collaborate.
While traditional resilience concepts are valuable, Active Hope is particularly relevant for those seeking a role in addressing global issues within their organization and communities. Active Hope extends beyond personal coping mechanisms to embodying a broader commitment to positive change and the creation of a more sustainable and just world for all.
Co-authors:
Chris Johnstone has taught self-help skills for wellbeing in a wide range of settings, pioneering the role of resilience training in healthcare, education, and the workplace. He trained as a medical doctor in the 1980s and worked for many years in mental health. His books include Active Hope (co-authored with Joanna Macy) and Seven Ways to Build Resilience.
Kara Johnston is Head of Product Development/Editor at CoachingOurselves and has been integral in creating the CoachingOurselves peer learning approach. She has worked in learning and development for over 15 years and is a former community mental health worker.