Reaching sustainability targets isn’t about working as hard as you can, tirelessly around the clock, completely burning out, trying to get people into a weekly team meeting to discuss the recycling bin.
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While at times your efforts can seem strained or even futile, this isn’t how it should be.
One of the most important things to remember is that sustainability is by definition, sustainable.
This means it needs to be manageable and not rely on one person getting it done. Engaging your team is key to achieving sustainability success.
We’re not talking about forcing your staff to all invest in your greener plans, adopting electric cars and switching their energy supplier at home – that’s a little invasive, and beyond most people’s means. Ensuring everyone is aligned is the best way to make sure there’s a shared understanding of the objectives.
Let’s see how you can get everyone starting together.
Get yourself a goal that everyone can contribute to
The easiest way to get everyone working towards the same goal, is making it something everyone can take part in. Ask yourself. Would you really want to be involved something if you weren’t considered important or relevant?
To engage your staff to achieve sustainability goals, take a look at them and see how they apply to the various roles within the company.
We’re sure at this stage you’ve already gathered a few goals and have some idea on what people need to do in order to achieve them.
Ask yourself if the HR team and the accountancy team can contribute the same?
Should they be doing the same actions or do you need to ask them to adopt slightly different behaviours?
If staff members look at your sustainability goals and instantly see that they don’t fit in, they’ve already dismissed the task before they’ve even tried it.
You might position a goal broad enough so that everyone can contribute to it or you may adapt it to each department or even each role within the department. Your aim should be to make sustainability sustainable, and simple to understand.
Don’t ask your staff to break down the barriers to success, lead the way and they’ll follow.
Demonstrate how sustainability affects everyone
You’ve got a goal that everyone can contribute to. Everybody knows the tasks they need to complete and more importantly how to do it. Yet, they’re still not on the same page as you, they’re a few steps behind, struggling to understand how it affects them.
People can have all the good intentions in the world, but sadly, unless there’s ‘something in it for them’ many lack motivation.
Motivation is key in making sustainable changes. You can provide the opportunity for them to be involved, give them the tools so that they’re capable of joining in. But that motivation… it’s crucial and in many cases, absent.
Sustainability will affect everyone in your workplace in one way or another. You simply need to find out how and use it to boost motivation.
Look at energy reduction. It has a significant impact when it comes to reducing carbon footprints. Simply changing to LED lightbulbs can make a huge difference, but it’s not just reducing carbon footprints, it’s minimising energy bills.
What does everyone have in common? They have energy bills.
Motivating people to reduce their energy consumption at work can translate into real-life savings in their personal life.
Those nudges towards ‘only boiling the water they need’ to make the tea-round can become a habit that will keep the pennies in their pockets at home. Every small action adds up, and soon enough, it’ll pay dividends.
Do you see how you can use this to edge forward in your sustainability goals?
Sustainability affects everyone in all aspects of their life. Trying to restrict it to just actions to take in the workplace will inevitably leave little motivation. So, try to expand this and connect to the individual, not the employee.
Write their cooperation into policy
It sounds a little rude this one, but we mean it in a positive way. Ever heard that children love boundaries? Well, the truth is that everyone does. People love to know where they stand, what’s expected of them and what is a waste of their time.
For a lot of staff that you’re trying to get on board, all you need to do is write it into policy.
It might be that each member of staff needs to spend 10 minutes a week acting on the latest sustainability policy. Alternatively, it could be that you give them permission to invest in recycling bins. Perhaps they’re allowed to opt for a greener pension that invests in renewable energy.
Giving the green light – literally – is sometimes all that’s needed for staff to move from a verbal ‘yes’, into action.
It’s all about the set up
Have you noticed how leveraging your staff focuses on setting them up for success? You’re not piling on the pressure, repeating yourself, requesting that changes be made.
You’re making sure they’re encouraged to do these things by creating green policies.
You’re showing them that sustainability benefits them as an individual.
You’re demonstrating that they are valued and vital in reaching your sustainability goals.
The outcome? An empowered, prepared and confident sustainable workforce.