#359 Why Hope Is a Leadership Skill - Jen Fisher

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/

Is hope naïve or is it the missing ingredient in modern leadership?

In this episode of Being Human, I speak with Jen Fisher, former Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte and author of Hope Is the Strategy. After experiencing severe burnout herself, Jen discovered that hope isn’t wishful thinking — it’s a measurable, actionable skill grounded in research.

We explore why burnout may actually be a symptom of hopelessness, how leaders unintentionally kill hope through language and behaviour, and why cultivating agency, multiple pathways, and honest truth-telling transforms culture. Jen shares practical tools, including hope audits, hope spotting, and the power of vulnerability in leadership.

We discuss:

• Burnout as a crisis of hopelessness
• What real hope actually means
• Leadership language that builds or kills hope
• Practical tools to cultivate hopeful cultures

Links:
Jen’s Website