How can you influence others to take action on sustainability?

Sustainability is not only a moral duty, but also a strategic advantage for leaders who want to create positive impact and inspire others. However, influencing others to take action on sustainability can be challenging, especially when there are competing priorities, resistance to change, or lack of awareness. In this article, you will learn some practical tips on how to use your leadership skills to persuade, motivate, and empower others to take action on sustainability.

1 Define your vision

The first step to influence others is to have a clear and compelling vision of what you want to achieve and why. Your vision should be aligned with your values, purpose, and goals, and reflect the benefits of sustainability for your organization, stakeholders, and the planet. You should also be able to communicate your vision effectively, using stories, examples, and data that appeal to the emotions and logic of your audience. By defining your vision, you will create a shared sense of direction and urgency, and inspire others to join you.

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Palakh Khanna

Changemaker| UN Women 75 leaders |Asia's 100 Women Power Leaders |American Express| Founder- Break The Ice| 2X TEDx | Harvard HPAIR ‘22| Businessworld WB 30U30| UN Millennium Fellow| Josh Talk|30+ talks| Speaker
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As a firm environmentalist, I have realised that the easiest way to highlight the importance of sustainability in our daily lives is to teach people about the negative consequences we might face if climate change is not reduced or taken action towards! Once the knowledge is imparted, it is important to highlight personal, community and collective actions that we can take to bring sustainable actions into our daily lives.

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Jeremiah Daley

Executive Director at Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA
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As one who has spent 19 years leading mine, I think that the best way to convey one's vision is to live it every day. Show up. Learn your organization's culture, strengths and weaknesses. Let people know what matters to you and your stakeholders. And be "out there" where all can see you and interact with you regularly. Emails, Teams messaging and Zooms aren't enough for inspiring your team!

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2 Understand your audience

The second step to influence others is to understand your audience and their needs, interests, and concerns. You should know who you are trying to influence, what they care about, what motivates them, and what barriers they face. You should also be aware of their level of knowledge, awareness, and commitment to sustainability, and tailor your message accordingly. By understanding your audience, you will be able to address their objections, emphasize their benefits, and build rapport and trust.

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Bob Doe

QA Tester at Testing Company
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adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here adding my thoughts here

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3 Demonstrate your credibility

The third step to influence others is to demonstrate your credibility and authority on the topic of sustainability. You should show that you have the knowledge, skills, and experience to lead the change, and that you are consistent and authentic in your actions and words. You should also seek feedback, acknowledge your mistakes, and learn from them. By demonstrating your credibility, you will establish yourself as a role model and a source of guidance and support for others.

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Dillon J. DeBoer

𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 & 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻! | 𝗖𝗣𝗔, 𝗖𝗜𝗔, 𝗖𝗙𝗘, 𝗖𝗙𝗖𝗦, 𝗖𝗖𝗔 | 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶
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In the world of consulting, credibility is the cornerstone of success. It's not just about showcasing what you know, but also acknowledging the boundaries of your knowledge. True confidence lies in recognizing these limitations. Rather than spreading yourself thin, dive deep into a topic, seeking to comprehend it better than anyone else. Engage with others, asking insightful questions to gain fresh perspectives and trigger new insights within yourself. We're all better together. And let's not forget about credentials—they serve as lifelong proof of your expertise. TL;DR: Cast your net deep, embrace curiosity, and let your credentials shine as a testament to your mastery.

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4 Leverage your network

The fourth step to influence others is to leverage your network and the power of social influence. You should identify and engage with key stakeholders, allies, and influencers who can help you spread your message, mobilize resources, and generate buy-in. You should also create opportunities for collaboration, dialogue, and learning among your network, and celebrate the successes and achievements of others. By leveraging your network, you will create a sense of community and belonging, and foster a culture of sustainability.

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5 Empower your team

The fifth step to influence others is to empower your team and enable them to take action on sustainability. You should provide them with the necessary resources, tools, and training to implement the change, and delegate tasks and responsibilities according to their strengths and interests. You should also encourage them to share their ideas, opinions, and feedback, and involve them in decision-making and problem-solving. By empowering your team, you will increase their ownership, engagement, and satisfaction.

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6 Reinforce your message

The sixth step to influence others is to reinforce your message and sustain the momentum of the change. You should monitor and measure the progress and impact of your actions, and communicate them clearly and regularly to your audience. You should also recognize and reward the efforts and contributions of others, and provide constructive feedback and coaching. You should also be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, and seek new opportunities and challenges. By reinforcing your message, you will maintain the focus, motivation, and commitment of others.

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Anil Ghelani, CFA

Head Passive Investments & Products. Previously: CEO & CIO - DSP BlackRock Pension Fund Managers
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One thing I've found helpful is to connect any important theme with Money and Investments - that helps to reinforce the message and influence others. So to get contribution and commitment from wider audience, we should align Sustainability with long term investment gains. Over the past three decades, we have seen three mega trends and themes shaping up the capital markets and the world at large ~ TMT theme in the 1990s ~ BRICS in the 2000s ~ and in the last decade, we had FAANG What will be next? ☆ I believe ESG and sustainable investing has the potential to become the “defining theme” of the current decade. So we need to suitably align ourselves to benefit from this.

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Vibu Venkatasubramanian

CFP®️Certified Financial Planner|Top Leadership Voice|4X Community Top Voice|Personal Finance|Wealth Advisor|investment Specialist. Wealth Management Personalised.Tailor made Wealth solutions.Consistent returns over 6Y
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Constant messaging clears off the air for any ambiguity. While messaging needs to be objective it doesn’t have to be patterned, to the extent that it becomes very single dimensional. In this fast evolving world, everyone suffers shorter attention span and hence we must spruce it up. Constant evolution, listening, storytelling, exploring the unknowns are certain components of reinforcing the message.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Bob Doe

QA Tester at Testing Company
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adding some thoughts in here adding some thoughts in here adding some thoughts in here adding some thoughts in here adding some thoughts in here adding some thoughts in here adding some thoughts in here adding some thoughts in here

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Bob Doe

QA Tester at Testing Company
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testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out testing this out

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How can you influence others to take action on sustainability?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define your vision

2 Understand your audience

3 Demonstrate your credibility

4 Leverage your network

5 Empower your team

6 Reinforce your message

7 Here’s what else to consider

Leadership

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How can you influence others to take action on sustainability?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define your vision

2 Understand your audience

3 Demonstrate your credibility

4 Leverage your network

5 Empower your team

6 Reinforce your message

7 Here’s what else to consider

Leadership

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