(This post was originally published as an article in the October/November 2009 issue of Green Home & Family magazine)
Sustainability (sus•tain’a•bil’i•ty n.) The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Whether you are the top dog at your organization, or the one who does all the heavy lifting, you are the one with the power to make your workplace more sustainable.
Yes, it helps if your job title has the letters C-E-O in them. But even with that obvious advantage, you’ll still need to get others to join you before you can make a new sustainability initiative really work.
So where do you start? Follow this 9-Step Plan to create something that’s perfect for your office:
1. Gather a Team. You can’t do this alone. Begin by talking to your peers, managers, and other stakeholders and find out who wants to help. If you aren’t finding any support, then you may have to do some education to help people understand WHY. Some of the best reasons for going green include:
* Increasing employee satisfaction, retention and productivity
* Improving your bottom line through more efficient operations
* Saving money on energy, water and raw materials
* Shielding yourself from escalating energy and water prices
* Branding the business and differentiating it from the competition
* Developing a positive, proactive relationship with local compliance inspectors
* Reducing pollution, waste and greenhouse gas emissions
* Avoiding fines and other sanctions green guide and certification
2. Take Stock of Where You Are. Awareness about your current practices is the best starting place, and sometimes just knowing how much you’re spending on energy or paper can be enough to get your executive team on board. But don’t just look at expenses. Check out the amount of waste your organization creates too. To download a comprehensive audit form, visit: www.socialgoodconsulting.com/checklist.
3. Determine Your End Goal – Once you’ve done an assessment, it’s time to figure out where you want to go. Specifically. And because each organization is different, your objectives will be unique. Those factors will help you determine exactly what’s important for you to achieve, and ultimately to measure.
4. Create an Action Plan – This is the step-by-step part. Choose three to five smaller goals (or strategies) that will help you move closer to your larger end goal. And then spread those out over the next 12 months, paying close attention to who will manage which tasks and how you will know exactly when you’ve hit the mark. But no matter what – start where you are. Don’t try to accomplish too many things too quickly. Be realistic and you’ll be much more successful.
5. Communicate Internally. Sustainability initiatives only work if everybody plays together nicely. That means, your entire staff needs to know what is happening, why and how they can do their part. It’s helpful to incorporate messages into your regular workflow of team meetings, memos and bulletin boards. But be creative too. Find ways to make the new goals a fun and inspiring part of your work day.
6. Communicate Externally. Let your customers, vendors and community know where you stand. But do it authentically. Don’t tell the world you’re doing something if you’re not doing it. Not only is that unethical, it will kill your business when people find out. (And they will.) The best way is to share your goals and the values behind them.
7. Monitor and Evaluate. It’s important to know when and how you’re finding success (or failure) with your new initiatives so you can make adjustments along the way. Monitor your progress on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis, and let everyone in on the results. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see huge results right away. Organizations that are new to sustainability can have a bit of a slow start.
8. Celebrate Your Success! When you reach your goals, commemorate the occasion with a party, a press release or a special offer for your customers. Acknowledging your accomplishments with more than just a pat on the back will keep everyone inspired and wanting to do more.
9. Set New Goals. The funny thing about sustainability is that there will always be more to do. With new technologies and scientific discoveries around every corner, you can rest assured that no matter where you are on the path, there will always be a new hill to climb. Don’t let this discourage you. Continuous improvement can be quite motivational.
Each of these steps to a sustainable workplace can seem overwhelming. If that’s the case, then don’t hesitate to consult with a professional in one or more areas depending on your needs. Ask your friends or colleagues for a referral, or call (805) 658-8196 for more information.
Did we miss something? Share your ideas, comments and questions below…
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