Getting Others on Board with Going Green: Leading by Example (post 1 of 5)
One of the obstacles many of my clients encounter is how to get others at work on board with going green. In some organizations, it may seem like a heavy lift, and it may feel that much tougher when you aren’t in a management position. In this and the following four posts, I will be addressing this topic. I could write a book – or two – on the topic, but this needs to be digestible and actionable, so I’ll be keeping it to five short posts.
The first thing that you want to do when looking at how to get others to take action around your environmental sustainability or going green project is to lead by example. This means that you are taking the action that you recommend others to take, and by doing that, you are (ideally) also inspiring others to take that same action.
When you lead by example, you can build trust and loyalty as well as commitment to the cause which you are championing. As with many actions, you don’t need to be in a management position in order to be a leader – you can lead from whatever part of the organization you find yourself in. Be sure to check out the other posts about this topic, such as ‘Implementing a Going Green Project When You’re Not in Charge’ or the five part series that starts with ‘9 Ways To Grow Your Reputation And Position Yourself To Make An Impact At Work.
If you are reading this post, then I assume that you have been taking some actions at work around going green or have started working on a going green or sustainability project. Once you have started implementing your going green project, you can begin talking about it and demonstrating how you are personally taking actions aligned with the actions you’d like your colleagues to take. Let’s say for example that you implemented an office supply reuse center to decrease wasted office supplies. Here are a few ways that you can lead by example:
1. Do the work: The first, most obvious thing, when leading by example is to get your hands dirty, so to speak. You want to do the work and show that you are taking those actions that you are encouraging others to take. In the case of the office supply reuse center, you will want to gather any supplies that you see and drop them off at the center. You can also ask your colleagues if they have extra supplies that they can give you, and explain to them what you are doing with those supplies.
2. Be accountable: The second thing is to be accountable and take responsibility for that action that you are taking and for the outcome. Whether you are in management or not, if you want to create change, then you need to own the actions that you are taking, take response-ability for them. By doing this, you are not only a change agent, but you are on your way to becoming a change leader – congratulations! When looking at the office supply reuse example, you will want to use the supply center whenever you need new supplies. You don’t want to built it up then go buy some new supplies because you didn’t take the time to look at the supplies in the center. Just like you are asking others to do this, you do it as well.
3. Share, share, share: It’s important to talk about the actions that you are taking. You may feel awkward doing it at first, but the more you practice, the easier it will get. The more you communicate, the more people will get used to the idea of the sustainability project that you are leading – or supporting. Remember that in sales, it takes someone hearing a message six to seven times before they take action. It is the same here – people will become slowly familiar with your project and take action after they have heard about it a few times. So don’t be shy!
4. Be enthusiastic: It’s ok to be excited about the project that you have implemented. In fact, I encourage you to share your energy and excitement with your colleagues so that they too can be inspired to take action. Energy is contagious – whether it is positive or negative. Positive energy is more likely to inspire others and create momentum. When you engage with positive energy, others will pick up on your energy and attitude and naturally mirror it, because that is what we (mainly unconsciously) do as human beings.
Leading by example really is one of the best ways to inspire others to take action, so congratulations on stepping up!! Be sure to check back here next week for the second in this five-part blog series around getting others on board with going green.
P.S. If you are currently working within an organization and are looking to grow your skill set and knowledge around sustainability by starting with where you currently work, be sure to download our free Beginner’s Guide to Going Green, with 50+ low-cost and low barrier to entry projects and much more to get started with. If you are looking at becoming a consultant, this could also be helpful in providing you will additional information around potential projects and the business case for going green.
Anca Novacovici
Anca is an author, speaker and founder of Eco-Coach Inc. She is passionate about supporting individuals and organizations around going green and environmental sustainability. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.